DreamFlight Charities is excited to announce the formation of the OpenSkies Flight Club, expected to launch in Frankfort, Kentucky in Fall 2025. This student-oriented program is specifically designed to fuel an interest in aviation, all while presenting the many opportunities and professions that exist within Kentucky’s aviation and aerospace industry.
While there is still plenty of planning to come, below are just a few things you can expect from OpenSkies with its initial launch.
Ground School
Each month, students will have the opportunity to sit under the teaching of a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), acquiring the basic knowledge required for flight. Not only will they have the chance to expand their understanding of aeronautical concepts, but the time they spend in these sessions will be tracked in their logbooks as actual ground school instruction.
GUMPS Check
GUMPS (gas, undercarriage, mixture, propeller, switches, and seatbelts), is an acronym used as a memory aid to promote safety before landing an aircraft. In a similar way, the OpenSkies Flight Club will incorporate various opportunities to hone essential life skills while encouraging character development, ensuring that they can rise to the occasion regardless of the situation or circumstances they may find themselves in.
Club Presentations
In addition to the monthly GUMPS check, OpenSkies Flight Club will generate an exciting lineup of guest speakers and presentations, highlighting the various professions and fields contained within our local aviation industry. From professional flight and drone operations to emergency response and law enforcement, students will receive a wholistic view of the industry and how it impacts everyday life.
These club meetings also serve as an opportunity for creative bridges to other industries. Be sure to check out our article on how aviation connects with various other disciplines to get a grasp as to what can be expected with this exciting opportunity presented by OpenSkies.
Flight Sim Saturdays
We are far from restricting this experience to a single day each month! In addition to our club meeting dates, our flight simulators will be available to club members on select weekends. These guided simulation opportunities allow students to put into practice what they are learning during ground school sessions, all while providing a safe environment to learn essential piloting and navigation skills.
Student Leadership
As an extension of DreamFlight Charities, the OpenSkies Flight Club seeks to help shape and develop the next generation of aviators and industry workers. Building student leadership in an effort to build grassroots support for the group will be essential to the club’s sustainability and success in the future. Meeting monthly, OpenSkies student leadership will help plan future club activities while also looking to further membership, program development, and community engagement.
Additional Opportunities
Membership within the OpenSkies Flight Club will include an annual discovery flight experience with one of our Certificated Flight Instructors (CFIs). Students will be engaged on a multiple-destination flight with their own time at the controls for a brief flight lesson. Discovery flights also serve as a prerequisite for one of DreamFlight’s Training Scholarships that award up to $6,000 in flight training, an amount that will take a student from zero/no experience to nearly the hours required for solo flight in an aircraft!
The club will also look to facilitate a variety of excursions to other facilities, from the Aviation Museum of Kentucky to the control tower of Blue Grass Airport. Regardless of the destination, students will have the opportunity to see the very best of our aviation community firsthand.
Additional information concerning club dues, speaker lineup, and more will be available in the coming weeks, so be sure to check DreamFlight’s social media channels for the latest updates and news!