'A whole new world': Texarkana nonprofit lets youth take flight

Carl Bandy Sr., left, flies with co-pilot Gabriella Cowan during a discovery flight. (Photo courtesy of Carl Bandy Sr.)
Carl Bandy Sr., left, flies with co-pilot Gabriella Cowan during a discovery flight. (Photo courtesy of Carl Bandy Sr.)

TEXARKANA, Texas -- A nonprofit called 4 States Youth Flyers started by Carl Bandy Sr. has been providing young people from ages 8-18 the opportunity to fly since August 2021.

Bandy is the president of the organization and a science teacher at Texas Middle School. He possesses vast aviation experience and has shown a dedication to giving young people an exciting career avenue through discovery flights.

"What I've found as a teacher is that sometimes, by finding some hobby that really catches a child's interest, it affirms in them 'I can do something.' And now when they study, they have a purpose in mind to do something," Bandy said. "So many of our young people want to be basketball players, football players or maybe even be a rap artist. And you and I know they're probably going to get struck by lightning twice before any of that happens.

"But here is a path that they can see themselves going down. And even if they go and become a pilot, they could still decide that they just like it for fun, and maybe they want to go to college and become a teacher. It just instills motivation, excitement, a vision and confidence."

In addition to serving in the Army during the Vietnam era, Bandy worked as a salesman, owned a medical equipment sales and service company, served on hospital and health systems boards and more. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, served in the Civil Air Patrol and is the incoming president of the local Experimental Aircraft Association, Chapter 1582, aka Twin City Flyers.

Through these experiences, Bandy developed a love for sharing the excitement of flying with friends and family.

"Along the way, I'm introducing nervous family and friends to the joy of flying," he said. "And after they were exposed to it, they're going, 'Hey, this is cool.' I have a knack for teaching."

Bandy and his family and friends were the initial funding source for this initiative, and now donations through a website help pay for gas, oil and maintenance of the airplanes.

"I'm willing to donate my time, as folks donate the funds for the operations," he said. "And it's a win-win."

Bandy introduces the kids to the process of flying before taking them up for what is many times a first-time experience for them.

"You've got a kid out there, and somebody donates money to the organization. All that child has got to do is be exposed," Bandy said. "Once their parents bring them out and they sign the form that allows them to be able to fly, I explain to them the process of what we're going to do. Once they come down and they've completed that flight, that log book with the access code allows them to get online, and it opens them up to a whole new world."

Upon completion of the first flight, each young person is awarded a certificate, a logbook, becomes an Experimental Aircraft Association member and has online access to Sporty's Private Pilot Course and other aviation-related courses. In addition, they have the opportunity to earn flight lessons and apply for aviation scholarships.

Bandy said that to determine who is going to be his co-pilot, the kids play "rock, paper, scissors."

"They've got to have legs long enough to touch the controls, and then they can do that," he said.

The discovery flight is the entree, and then it's up to the kids to see how far they want to take their aviation experience from there.

All of the flights, with the exception of one, have been based out of Texarkana Regional Airport. A connection from De Queen, Arkansas, allowed for a recent flight out of a De Queen airport. Bandy and the children fly to and out of 12 airports within a 70-mile radius in the four states area.

This rare opportunity comes at a time where pilots are a hot commodity in the country, Bandy says.

"The need for the next quite a number of years will be because of an expansion of a fleet of general aviation airplanes, as well as the airlines, and you'll need instructors to do that," he said. "You'll need mechanics to repair those planes. You will have a growing need for young people of the ages of 8-18 by the time they go through the ranks. They cannot produce enough pilots, even now."

Bandy not only excels at generating an interest in flying among young people in the area, but he is fulfilled by it.

"It's inexplicable," he said. "I love flying, and I love to see the lights go on in people's eyes and for them to get over their fears. I've ridden motorcycles, boats and everything else. Nothing comes close to being able to get on the airplane and go someplace you've never been before, and as you're looking down, you're looking at the earth God has made.

"And for me to be able to introduce these children – I mean think about it – they're not even able to drive a car yet, and now they go to the airport and they see planes, private jets, a helicopter. And they see that those are people just like them and they think 'I can do this.' It's so fulfilling, and that's what I want to do for the rest of my life."

(To learn more, visit 4statesyouthflyers.org or email [email protected].)

photo Carl Bandy Sr. and a few youth flyers prepare for takeoff before a discovery flight in De Queen, Ark. (Photo courtesy of Carl Bandy Sr.)

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