OSHAWA -- Doug Raine climbs into his 2-seater Piper Cherokee aircraft on a recent cloudy morning at Oshawa Municipal Airport, explaining the hours before 10 a.m. are some of the best for flying.
For more than 10 years Mr. Raine has been taking children up on flights as part of his work as a volunteer pilot with the Young Eagles, an aviation program run by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) designed to provide youth with the opportunity to fly in an aircraft.
"It's a chance for me to pass on something I love," Mr. Raine said. "I hope the flight can give them a different perspective on what they can do with their life."
Since he started volunteering in 1996 Mr. Raine has flown more than 500 kids on Young Eagle flights. He will be honoured with the Young Eagles Field Representative of the Year Award at this year's EAA Airventure 2008 convention in OshKosh, Wisconsin.
"My first reaction was, 'Wow,'" Mr. Raine said of being chosen for the award from all the Young Eagles volunteers around the world. "It's surprising but very nice to be recognized."
In addition to his work with Young Eagles, Mr. Raine is also an active proponent of local aviation and was part of the core group of Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) members that lobbied to keep the Oshawa Municipal Airport open when it was slated to close a few years ago. That plan was reversed after an economic study sought by COPA members showed the airport is worth $58 million in local revenue.
"He's just got such a big heart," said Cheryl Marek, who also volunteers for Young Eagles and led the action group to save the airport. "He's very encouraging to new pilots and loves to take people up for flights, whether it's for a first time or a senior who hasn't been up in awhile."
For Mr. Raine, Young Eagles is a chance to show kids there are lots of options.
"These days so many kids just sit at home playing video games," Mr. Raine said. "I hope this shows them that you can do more with your life."
He fondly recalls one 14-year-old girl he took for a flight in Wisconsin. She was so taken with flying that she's now building her own airplane, right down to upholstering the leather for the seats.
"If she can do that at 14," he said. "Just think what else she can accomplish in her life."
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