A Thrilling Landing, Followed by a Shocking Twist

A pilot’s first landing at KJFK is nerve-wracking enough, but what happened after the landing shocked everyone.

Jessica Cox

Friday, May 13, 2022 at 10:54 AM ET

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The author taxiing by the tower at KJFK. [Photo: Blue Slate]

Key Takeaways:

The author, piloting an Ercoupe as a sport pilot, undertook an ambitious mission to land at KJFK, a major Class Bravo airport, to host a "Limb Different Airport Day" for children with disabilities, sponsored by SITA Aero.
Achieving this required extensive coordination with air traffic control and airport authorities, including rerouting jet traffic for the Ercoupe's slow landing, making the inspirational flight and event a significant success.
Despite the successful mission, the Ercoupe sustained minor damage from a jet blast while parked at the FBO, but the author prioritized the lasting positive impact on the children over the incident.

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Earlier this spring, we set out to take the Ercoupe cross-country to inspire kids with disabilities for the third year in a row. This year, I would be in New York to speak at an annual convention for SITA Aero. SITA provides software and IT systems for airports and aircraft globally. When they heard about our work at Rightfooted Foundation, my nonprofit that aims to inspire children through aviation, they wanted to sponsor a Limb Different Airport Day. I would fly into KJFK in the Ercoupe to visit with a group of children and people with disabilities.

First, I did not have permission to fly into a Class Bravo primary airport as a sport pilot. Plus, the Ercoupe’s home base is Tucson, where I live, so it would be at least a five-day journey to KJFK.