THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604140084
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALISON BOLOGNA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
The roar of the engine, the speed of the takeoff and the carefree feeling of floating in the air are enough to make an ambitious kid crave flight lessons.
But the crash that killed 7-year-old Jessica Dubroff on Thursday has left many people wondering whether children younger than 16 - the Federal Aviation Administration's minimum age for holding a pilot's student permit - should be allowed to fly.
The owners of two flight schools at Hampton Roads Airport differ on the age question, but they agree that no one younger than 16 should be up in the air without a competent and qualified instructor.
Curtis Eads, the owner of Curtis Eads Flight School, said that in his 38 years at Hampton Roads he has never instructed anyone younger than 15 years old. And after Thursday's accident, he said, he plans to require every student to have a permit in hand before they get in a plane with an instructor. The permit requires a physical examination to ensure that the student pilot is fit to fly.
``I call it child abuse,'' Eads said in response to Thursday's tragedy. ``There's no way a 7-year-old child can fly an airplane.''
But Richard Musick, the owner of Mercury Flight Center for 13 years, disagreed.
``It's not that difficult to handle the controls,'' he said. ``A trained chimpanzee could do it. Flying an airplane is easier than driving a car.''
In fact, kids younger than 16 have demonstrated skill at the controls. Last year, for instance, 8-year-old Killian Moss drew national attention by flying from San Diego to Norfolk.
But Musick said that handling the controls is only one part of flying.
``The most important thing a pilot does is make judgment decisions,'' he said. ``The pilot is the one who makes the go, no-go decision.''
Last week Dubroff's instructor was that person, Musick said.
``Regardless of the girl's age, she was not the pilot,'' he said. ``The pilot was the flight instructor, and the accident was a result of his poor judgment. He made a very bad, fatal decision.''
Brad Snead, a flight instructor at the Eads school, said part of the problem was the weather.
``No planes fare well in thunderstorms, but little planes really take a beating,'' he said.
Eads and Musick also said that they believed the parents pushed the girl too far.
``I call them glory-seekers,'' Eads said. ``The whole thing shouldn't have happened. I don't think that little girl could even push the rudder.''
At 4 feet 2 inches tall, Dubroff used special extenders to reach the plane's pedals.
But regardless, Musick said that the age limit set by the FAA is adequate. He also said that he doesn't have a problem with teaching young kids how to fly if they're with a certified flight instructor.
``I'd rather they'd be learning how to fly than hanging out in the mall or on a street corner,'' he said.
``Flying gives them confidence. It helps them mature and accept responsibility for their actions.
``But, no kid should be able to fly solo until they are at least 16,'' he said. ``They haven't had enough experience in life.''
Eads agreed.
``You need an education,'' he said. ``These kids are growing up too fast.'' by CNB