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, a sport pilot, embarked on an ambitious cross-country flight in her Ercoupe to KJFK to host a "Limb Different Airport Day" and inspire children with disabilities.
Despite significant logistical challenges for a slow aircraft in Class Bravo airspace, extensive coordination with KJFK authorities, SITA Aero, and volunteers successfully allowed the Ercoupe to land, even rerouting jets.
After a successful flight and inspiring event, the Ercoupe was unexpectedly damaged on the ground by a jet blast from a business jet, which lifted one wing and slammed the other into the tarmac.
Despite the damage, the author considered the mission a success, fulfilling its purpose to profoundly inspire children with disabilities and reinforce the message that they can achieve anything.

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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.