Expanding Youth Minds, One Take Off at a Time

By Milton Davis

United Youth Aviators was started in 2019 when Cletodell Titus became a Certified Flight Instructor and had a vision to combine a summer camp with aviation for inner-city youth. He shared the vision with Milton Davis, and together they made it come to life. They are both veterans of the New York City Police Department and, at the time, they were partners at the 81st Pct. in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Milton Davis has since retired in 2020 after completing 20 years of service. Cletodell Titus always had a passion for flying but could not afford the opportunity when he was younger, growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.

In July of 2019, with the help of District Leader Nikki Lucas, they secured a classroom in a local school in Spring Creek Towers, located in East New York, Brooklyn. The Young Airmans Association was able to secure enough funds to enroll nine youth aviators, ages 11-16 years old. Our first supporters were, at the time, NYC Council member Alicka Ampry-Samuel, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, and a local business owner, Ms. B.J. Jones.

The Young Airmans Association is our registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In conjunction with United Youth Aviators (UYA), we are focused on enhancing the lives of young men and women who reside in underrepresented communities through aviation. We are Expanding Youth Minds One Take-Off at a Time. Cletodell Titus, having known Thomas Tassopoulos, aka “Tommy,” owner of Tasco Aviation, told him about the program. Tommy was impressed by the idea of teaching kids and allowed us to have exclusive access to his Cessna 172SP G1000. We conducted our ground lessons in the classroom and transported the kids to Republic Airport in Farmingdale, Long Island, for flight lessons. We operated the program for six weeks, Monday - Thursday, from 8 am - 3 pm.

Throughout this time, United Youth Aviators has been featured in several news media and newspapers. We were featured on NY1, NBC 4, Channel 12, CBS 2, FOX 5, and Channel 7. We were also featured on NYC’s #1 morning radio station, 105.1 The Breakfast Club.

We have now expanded to a Weekend Flight Academy and a Summer Flight Academy. We go through the process of getting funds from NYC Council Members and local politicians. These funds are then allocated to us each year through the Department of Youth and Community Development. Presently, we have five Youth Pilots. These are their stories:

I am United Youth Aviators’ first pilot. My name is Jerome O’Bryant Jr., 19, from Rosedale, Queens, N.Y. I started the journey at age 16 and completed my private pilot license at age 18 and my commercial instrument rating at 20. I was on a trip with my high school to Albany when Assembly Member Tremaine Wright gave me the info about United Youth Aviators. I always wanted to learn to fly as a kid, I love to travel, and I find the technology of airplanes fascinating. I am acquiring the hours needed to become a Certified Flight Instructor in the very near future. I plan to help other youth in the UYA program and also become a captain of an airline.

I’m Philip Martin, 19, from Jamaica, Queens, N.Y. I started the journey at 17 years of age and completed my private pilot license at age 19. The opportunity came when Brooklyn Steam Center Principal Kayon Pryce sponsored me with United Youth Aviators, and I took off with the opportunity. When I was younger, I would fly flight simulators on my PC and soon enough ended up flying a real airplane. My future plans as a pilot are to acquire more flight hours, obtain my instrument and multi-engine ratings, and enjoy my freedom, then possibly move into a commercial license.

I’m Ronald West, 18, from the Bronx, N.Y. I started the journey at 15 years of age and completed my private pilot license at age 18. I was referred to United Youth Aviators by a friend as we were having a conversation about my aspirations to fly. My future plans as a pilot are to acquire more flight hours, more ratings, and find a position as a corporate pilot.

I’m Alfredo Covarrubias, 18, from Howard Beach, Queens, N.Y. I started the journey at 15 years of age and completed my private pilot license at age 18. I was referred to United Youth Aviators by a friend of my mother. I am excited about accomplishing this goal, and I will continue my education in the aviation industry. Currently, I am attending Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology for my Airframe and Powerplant license.

I’m Kamora Freeland, a 17-year-old from Staten Island, N.Y. I started my journey at age 15 and completed my private pilot’s license at age 17. I made history by becoming the youngest African American female licensed pilot in NYC, the first licensed female pilot of United Youth Aviators, and the youngest licensed pilot of United Youth Aviators. My future plans are to become a commercial pilot.

We are continuing our expansion of our programs with NYC schools with aviation after-school programs.

The youth that participate are exposed to the wonders of aviation and all the opportunities it affords. By learning how to fly a Cessna 172 G1000 plane and log flight hours that can be used towards a career in aviation. During their instructional time, they are taught how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) allow for the wonders of flight, and they also learn how to successfully apply those fundamentals during their ground instruction. Our goal is to put youth in a position to achieve their Airman’s Certificate (Private Pilot License) while having fun at a young age. This achievement will place our young men and women in a superior position to be marketable in an industry that is in need.