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...“Jake and the Tiger Flight,” a new book being published by the TigerFlight Foundation, is intended to help children grab dreams, reach goals and become pilot-in-command of their own lives.
Phil “Sunny” Cataldo, foundation director and volunteer pilot, began writing a 17-page draft of the book four years ago hoping to obtain corporate sponsorship for TigerFlight programs.
The book is intended for children of all ages, even those who aren’t necessarily aviation enthusiasts. It focuses on the importance of setting and reaching goals, being responsible and taking charge of your life.
Cataldo drew the “pilot your own life” theme from a motivational event where he spoke to children about the Federal Aviation Administration’s position of Pilot-in-Command. A Pilot-in-Command is a pilot designated before or during the flight of a plane to have full responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight.
“It was like a light
bulb that sparked that night when I got home,” he said. “I thought how perfect it would be to tie in the FAA position of Pilot-in-Command with the idea of children becoming the pilot-in-command of their own lives.”
The title character, Jake, was inspired by Cataldo’s real-life experience with a 14-year-old of the same name who accompanied Cataldo on a short flight during a TigerFlight education day.
Three years later, Jake met Cataldo again at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, this time in his own plane. Jake thanked the pilot for inspiring him to get his pilot’s license.
This success story makes all the Experimental Aircraft Association programs worth it, Cataldo said.
“I thought, ‘My work here is done.’ Then I remembered the other ‘Jakes’ out there who need to be introduced to aviation.”
Cataldo enlisted the help of Fulton County-based author George Weinsten in October 2007.
Weinstein, a former president of the Atlanta Writers Club, has published multiple essays in regional anthologies, but “Jake and the Tiger Flight” will be his first published novel. When Weinstein took over writing the book, Cataldo became a technical consultant, ensuring all aviation terms and information were correct.
“This has been my first experience with the TigerFlight Foundation,” Weinstein said. “I have enjoyed every minute of it. My ultimate goal is to get my pilot’s license so I may be a full participant in the air as well as on the ground.”
The nonprofit TigerFlight Foundation will use funds from grants and donations to self-publish the book through TigerFlight Press.
The book’s projected publication date is in September. It will be available online at www.tigerflightfoundation.org.
The portion of the proceeds going to the TigerFlight Foundation, based at Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, will be designated to benefit motivational seminars led by the group.
