Family, Friends, and Supporters,
As many of you know, I have been studying diligently for my Private Pilot License for a long while. It has been a long journey with many hills, valleys, mountains, and clouds along the way. With your emotional and financial support, let us not forget the many prayers; I have finally reached the last checkpoint in the first leg of my flying career. I appreciate the role each one of you has played in supporting me thus far.
Since I was young I have been exposed to aviation through my grandfather, Jerry Cooper, who was a corporate pilot for many years. He took me to air shows and introduced me to airplanes of all variation, speed and sizes. I went to a youth camp in the seventh grade one weekend and the final night all the church leaders prayed over us. When my youth pastor was praying for me he suddenly stopped and told me he had a vision of me flying. Whether you believe in spiritual occurrences or not, the moment had a profound impact on me. I had never considered aviation as career path but it all made sense when he said that. I thought, Lord, thank you for revealing your plan for my life and I’ll follow whatever it is, but wow, thanks for choosing something I know I will enjoy.
From that point I began to focus on pursuing a career in aviation. When I was 16, I only had my learner’s permit to drive and wasn’t old enough to get a pilot license. Nevertheless I recruited my grandfather to begin to teach me all about aviation. In a two week crash course at his house in North Carolina I passed the Private Pilot Airplane Written Test on June 1, 2007 with an 80%. When I was 17 I began taking flying lessons with my grandfather on holidays and summer breaks; sporadic lessons that introduced me to the basics of flying in the traffic pattern. It was the cornerstone of the foundation of my flying career.
Graduating from high school in Georgia at 17, I was accepted to Liberty University’s aviation degree program. I completed ground school for the private pilot at the part 141 flight school but could not begin the flying portion until I had banked $2,000 in my flying account. I do not come from an affluent family and paying for tuition my freshman year was miracle enough. Nevertheless I continued my ground school and academic courses at Liberty while praying for a financial miracle. I believed God would provide because I knew it was his will that I be a pilot. I went through the whole fall semester without flying. I saw my classmates fly over my dorm and the marching band practice field every day. It was tough, but God gives us peace and patience when we ask of it.
One day after church my grandfather called me and said he woke up in the middle of the night impressed by God to search for scholarships. I followed his lead and found a scholarship in memory of the tragic death of Adam Triplett (http://www.lnf.org/?page_id=111 ). It was a scholarship for a high school student in Ohio going to Moody Bible Institute in the aviation program. I was disqualified for the scholarship on many levels but I related to Adam’s Christian background in aviation and in music. I felt led to write them a letter whether they would consider me for the scholarship or not. One day after class in my private pilot ground course my professor told me the scholarship had come in. I didn’t know what he was talking about at first. It was $1,000 from the Adam Triplett scholarship fund! The Tripletts changed the rules of the scholarship to adapt to my circumstances. It was a miracle I definitely did not expect. I walked back to my dorm praising God for the provision. Unfortunately it only supplied half of the funds needed toSTART flight training at Liberty. The estimated total funds for your first year IN ADDITION to tuition is about $9,000* ($180/hour with instruction--$150/hour solo). *Rates have since dropped slightly (http://www.liberty.edu/media/1121/Flight%20Costs1.pdf)
After school ended for summer break I went to stay at my grandfather’s house for a few weeks in hope to complete the private pilot program before school in August (flight fees are only $45/hour at the local airport which is extremely rare). In the Liberty degree program, if you don’t have your private license by your sophomore year you cannot take the ground courses for the instrument rating. That would put me at taking too few classes to receive financial aid for school and could end up dropping out of college altogether.
Because the written test is only valid two years before taking your final flight exam for the license, I had to buckle down and study once more for the Private Pilot Airplane Written Test. This time I received an 87%. Not much later my flight instructor (Jerry Cooper) decided I was safe and comfortable enough in the airplane to go around the airport one time by myself. This was my first solo on May 12, 2009.
I took a 6 week break from flying to go to Texas to work as a counselor at a Christian camp. It was an amazing experience getting to work with kids and show them the Love of Christ. I saw about 400 kids come to Christ and got to earn a little flying money while doing it. Now that’s a good deal! But blazing trails in 106 degree weather is more or less a challenge.
I arrived back in North Carolina and spent 3 weeks working diligently and flying steadily to prepare for the Private Pilot Check Ride. I am happy to announce that on July 23, 2009, after 3 years of on and off study, and 3 weeks of nonstop flying, I have earned my Private Pilot license!
This past fall semester I have been studying hard. In addition to my core classes I have received excellent training in Aviation Weather and Instrument Ground courses. These courses have taught me not only the scientific explanations and government regulations, but some wise and practical tips to keep me a safe professional pilot for years to come. I had the funds to pursue my first semester of flying and have shown the School of Aeronautics at Liberty University that I exhibit the skills and proficiency to fly their equipment by myself and to begin Instrument flight training. In the compact weeks leading up to final exams and band performances I managed to focus enough to pass the FAA Instrument Written Test with an 85%.
Ever since God gave me that direct call to be a pilot, I have considered being a missionary pilot. You may have heard of Nate Saint or the movie memorializing his martyrdom as a pioneer missionary pilot,End of the Spear. I have travelled to Panama, Nicaragua, Colorado, Canada, and now Texas for short periods solely to tell the world of theGood News that Christ came so that we would not have to die. It has become a passion over the last few years, studying the Bible and ministering to people, despite my reserved personality. I was informed very recently by my other grandfather (Carl Stewart), who pastored several Assembly of God churches in Georgia, that while he was doing my baby dedication, God spoke to him that I would be “in the ministry.” This confirmed that God was calling me to be a missionary pilot.
Once again I would like to thank each and every one of you for the specific role you have played in helping me reach that goal; whether emotional, financial, spiritual, or physical (I gotta eat! Thanks Mom, Dad, Mawmaw, Poppop). This is simply an update for my current aviation status for those of you who have invested in me and a little background for those of you that did not know.
Now I am all set to begin my next leg in this LONG cross-country: the Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics License. If there’s anything else I can do for you I would be more than happy. But what I need most from you all is prayer. My strongest ally in climbing this mountain is the Lord my God. May the blessings of the Lord be upon you.
Grace and Peace from your Brother in Christ Jesus,
Joseph “Alex” Cooper
Private Pilot
Trumpeteer
Servant of Christ
