CRESTVIEW — U.S. Army veteran Nicholas Moore wants to begin his final year of flight school next month and become a certified international commercial airline pilot.
But he'll need some emergency financial assistance to finish the program.
FRIENDS SEEK HELP
Moore served over six years as an unmanned aerial vehicle mechanic/operator and deployed to Afghanistan three times during Operation Enduring Freedom.
The 26-year-old single father, who is licensed to fly single-engine aircraft, left the Army to raise his 5-year-old son, Hayden. Now, he wants to complete his final year of flight school at the Airline Training Programs School in Jacksonville.
However, Moore— who was honorably discharged in May— has used all of his V.A. G.I. Bill benefits and student loan options to pay the school’s tuition costs, and he is $15,000 short.
But friends believe where there is a will, there is a way. In this case, they hope, Moore can benefit from a GoFundme.com page.
Pensacola resident Amber Meche started the fundraising account for her friend.
“He has done a lot of good things to help people and he doesn’t charge anyone,” Meche said. “I just thought it would be nice to help him out.”
As of this writing, the site has raised just $150 toward the goal.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
In addition to Moore's service to his country, he has given back to the community by offering plane rides to people unable to fly commercial airlines.
Pressure changes from flying at a high altitude would cause hearing problems particularly problematic for some people, but flying at low altitude causes no change in pressure, Moore said.
Moore spent over 56 hours in the air allowing children with hearing and other health concerns to ride while in the Virginia and Washington State areas.
He paid for the airplane rentals, and estimated that he has spent $9,000 on 18 charitable flights in the past three years.
But it was worth it, he said. For instance, while in the air, he would let passengers get behind the controls and fly the aircraft under his supervision.
“They had a sense of over-enjoyment; they were ecstatic,” he said. “Most of these kids have never had the opportunity (to fly).”
Moore plans to offer the same services to patients at a hearing center in Pensacola.
Upon getting his aviation degree and becoming an airline pilot, Moore wants to expand his charitable services.
“The goal is to take (these) people worldwide,” he said.
WANT TO HELP?
Visit www.gofundme.com/dxzq5c to support Nicholas Moore’s final year in flight school
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community service fills pilot's dreams, but advance tuition presents challenge