Two Greenville, S.C., pilots have joined forces to create a new group for minority pilots called Southeast Aviators.
While a relatively new pilot — he got his private ticket in April — Theron Burton has been fascinated with flight since he was a child. A ride in a neighbor’s plane when he was just 12 ignited the fire for him to finally pursue his certificate last year.
But he noticed one thing at the airport: There weren’t a lot of other minority pilots.One day when he was preflighting his Cessna 182 at the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center, home of the old Donaldson Airport in Greenville, he saw another black pilot, Clint Thompson.
“That was the first time I saw another black pilot out on the airfield,” Burton said. “He came over and we started to chat.”
The two exchanged phone numbers and eventually decided to start a networking group for minority pilots and aviation enthusiasts.
The first meeting, held at Greenville Downtown Airport (KGMU), attracted about 15 people. While most were pilots, there were also aircraft mechanics and aviation enthusiasts. While many were from the local area, there were also people from other parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida.
“There was obviously a need for this type of a club,” Burton noted. “Once I put it out there, there was a lot of good response. There are a lot of pilots who want to be involved.”
He hopes the group will become active in flying together to local fly-ins and the weekly South Carolina Breakfast Club outings, as well as the bigger shows like SUN ’n FUN and Oshkosh.
“There’s not a lot of minority pilots at these shows,” he said.
And he hopes the group will help get more minorities, including kids, involved in aviation.
According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, 97% of pilots in the aviation industry are white, while just 2% are black, and 1% Asian. The breakdown for general aviation pilots wasn’t available.
While the new group is focused on minorities, Burton noted that “all pilots are welcome.”
That includes pilots of all races and ethnicities, as well as all pilots who live in the southeastern part of the U.S.
“We don’t want to be just a local group,” he said.
It also includes pilots of all experience levels, from students to veterans who have been flying decades.
“That was one of the main reasons I wanted to start this group,” Burton said. “Once I got my private pilot certificate, I wanted to have places to go, but I didn’t want to fly to Oshkosh by myself, for example.”
He noted he and some other members of the group are also planning a fly-out to the Bahamas.
“That’s a trip I would never do myself as a low-time pilot,” he said. “But it would be great to go with a group of pilots with lots of experience.”
To learn more about the group, check out its Facebook page at Facebook.com/SEAviators.
Please consider Black Pilots of America (BPA) which has similar goals and objectives. We have about 400 members nationwide and 23 chapters. We have a flying competion at Pine Bluff Arkanasas every Memorial Day Weekend and a Summer Flight Academy each July in Houston, TX (our 43rd year!) http://www.bpapilots.org
Eric Woods
President
Herbert Jones Jr. Chapter
Washington, DC
I am a member of the Heart of Carolina Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. We’re starting the 4th year of our Youth Aviation Academy, whose purpose is to introduce kids to many things in aviation. We have five active pilots in our chapter, and once a year, usually in May, we do an EAA Young Eagle Day for the kids in the Academy.
Visit our website: http://www.tuskegeeairmennc.org/
There is another organization in Durham NC, Airolina Young Aviators Program, whose focus is to help high school kids get their pilot’s license. See: http://www.triangletribune.com/news/2016/01/03/local/aviator-program-helps-youth-take-flight/
Please keep me posted on planned meetings. Some of us would like to attend and participate in your mission..
Good read, congratulations. I got my license in 1957 & still active. If any of your group pass this way you are welcome at our private strip…OK15 also known as AVIAN AIR PARK.
Ken, Thanks for the support. If we are ever in the area, we will take you up on the offer!
Correction. This is a fantastic opportunity! Not only to fill a need but include a broader spectrum of aviation enthusiasts; as opposed to race-specific or other limitations.
My name is Unell Mitchell, I have about 23 hrs of flight time and would like to know if there is anything like this in new York. I would like any information or advice I can get
Hi Unell, You may want to check and see if BPA has a chapter in your area. I am not aware of any particular group in your area but BPA should be a good source for you.
I am happy to see you start a group of people who have a interest in aviation. I have a Comm’l, Single and ME Land and Inst. I did fly Helicopters at Saluda SC. (south Carolina Helicopters) thirty eights years ago. I hope to see you at a fly-in some day
John, We hope that you will join us at one of our fly ins this year! We hope to visit 6 different states in 2016, come be part of the fun!
Thanks for the reply, I will be at the next Sun N Fun in Florida, See you then. John
Doesn’t being a pilot automatically make you a part of a minority anyway?…lol Good luck, I hope it grows into a nationwide group that brings a new generation of people into the greatest hobby/profession there is!
John, That’s exactly right! All pilots are considered a minority and therefore anyone is welcome to fly with us. One of our main focus is getting minority pilots more involved in the aviation community as a whole. We want to see more minority pilots involved in breakfast fly ins, Oshkosh, Sun N Fun, etc.
I’m glad you started this group. I remember feeling pretty alone when I was taking flight lessons – I was a woman, and I was pregnant – and I thought it would be great to connect with others like me. Guess you had a similar experience, and are helping connect others. Bravo.
We currently have a female student pilot that is in our group. You would be a great connection for her. Please visit our facebook page and look her up. Her name is Karen. Also we would love to have you at some of our fly ins!
that’s sounds good but i am just trying to get my private pilot cert. i got about are over hundred hours but instr i got he just fly about one time a week if he feels like it. I want to finish up Royce Roberson
An instructor only avail 1 hour/week? You’d better get a real instructor. 100 Hours and no license is ridiculous.
What airport are you located at? Maybe we can help you find a more dedicated instructor to help you finish up. You need much more time per week than that to become a competent safe pilot. I would encourage you to find another instructor.
It’d be great if you decide to expand / start a chapter here in KY (KLOU, hint hint!)
The cool thing about Southeast Aviators is that we are not location specific. We have members from Virginia to Florida. This year we plan to fly to six different states and attend several planned fly ins. One of our goals is to help pilots stay proficient and safe. I can’t think of a better way of doing it! We hope you will join us at one of our fly ins.
COOL!
PLEASE let me know if / when you fly in to KLOU (Louisville Bowman.) I’ll DEFINITELY come out to visit with you. I fly with http://www.louisvilleaviation.com
tts7rlr@ups.com
Am very interested in becoming an active member…and participate in fly-ins. I sent a note via facebook…identifying my contact information and questions. Thanks in advance for responding.
We would love to have you as part of the group!