In the Cockpit with A.L. Ueltschi is part of the Passion for Flight series. These short biographies (20,000 words or less) tell the stories of notable pilots who inspire young and old alike to take to the skies.
Two types of salvation were especially near and dear to the heart of A.L. Ueltschi: saving lives and saving sight. Ueltschi, who died on October 18, 2012, at the age of 95, accomplished the first mission through FlightSafety International, the world’s largest provider of aviation services and training. He accomplished the second through ORBIS International, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to saving sight and eliminating unnecessary blindness worldwide, and more recently, through HelpMESee, an organization he cofounded with his son.
Ueltschi, founder and chairman emeritus of FlightSafety International, accumulated more than 35,000 hours of flight over the years. He often said that the best safety device on any aircraft, anywhere, was a well-trained pilot. FlightSafety provides professional training and simulation products and services equipment for corporate, commercial, government, and military professionals worldwide. More than 75,000 pilots, technicians, and other aviation professionals train at FlightSafety each year. FlightSafety accomplishes it training mission through 40 learning centers and its operation of the world’s largest fleet of full flight simulators, designed and manufactured by Flight Safety Simulation.
Ueltschi co-founded ORBIS International and served as its chairman for years. Since 1982, when the Flying Eye Hospital took off on its first sight-saving mission, it has conducted eye health treatment and training programs in more than 85 countries. More than 15 million people have received eye health treatment, and more than 288,000 people have received eye heath care training. Ueltschi cofounded HelpMeSee recently to address the cataract tragedy in the developing world.
Di Freeze interviewed A.L. Ueltschi for this short biography, and filled in facts with his autobiography, his book, “The History & Future of FlightSafety International.” This is not meant to be a comprehensive history of A.L. Ueltschi’s life, but it contains the major milestones in his aviation history.
About the Author:
Author and editor Di Freeze interviewed many well-known aviators during nearly a decade as editor-in-chief for Airport Journals, the founding publication of Living Legends of Aviation. She interviewed some of the world’s best-known pilots, including military heroes, celebrity pilots, aerobatic pilots, astronauts, philanthropists and entrepreneurs.
The books in the Passion for Flight series include In the Cockpit with Chuck Yeager, In the Cockpit with Bob Hoover, In the Cockpit with Cliff Robertson, In the Cockpit with Sean Tucker, In the Cockpit with Morgan Freeman, In the Cockpit with Tony Bill, In the Cockpit with John Travolta, In the Cockpit with Harrison Ford, In the Cockpit with Robin Olds, and In the Cockpit with Al Ueltschi.
Upcoming biographies will feature military greats such as Brig. Gen. Tex Hill; Hollywood director and actor Sydney Pollack; aerobatic superstar Patty Wagstaff; astronauts Maj. Gen. Bill Anders, Capt. Gene Cernan and Brig. Gen. Charlie Duke; entrepreneurs Clay Lacy, Linden Blue, and Barron Hilton; legendary golfer Arnold Palmer; country singer Aaron Tippin; comedian Jeff Dunham, and many others.
Di Freeze lives in Colorado. She also writes a blog, Same Shih Tzu Different Day, about her four rescued shih tzus: three half-sisters from a puppy mill and an owner release male.
Two types of salvation were especially near and dear to the heart of A.L. Ueltschi: saving lives and saving sight. Ueltschi, who died on October 18, 2012, at the age of 95, accomplished the first mission through FlightSafety International, the world’s largest provider of aviation services and training. He accomplished the second through ORBIS International, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to saving sight and eliminating unnecessary blindness worldwide, and more recently, through HelpMESee, an organization he cofounded with his son.
Ueltschi, founder and chairman emeritus of FlightSafety International, accumulated more than 35,000 hours of flight over the years. He often said that the best safety device on any aircraft, anywhere, was a well-trained pilot. FlightSafety provides professional training and simulation products and services equipment for corporate, commercial, government, and military professionals worldwide. More than 75,000 pilots, technicians, and other aviation professionals train at FlightSafety each year. FlightSafety accomplishes it training mission through 40 learning centers and its operation of the world’s largest fleet of full flight simulators, designed and manufactured by Flight Safety Simulation.
Ueltschi co-founded ORBIS International and served as its chairman for years. Since 1982, when the Flying Eye Hospital took off on its first sight-saving mission, it has conducted eye health treatment and training programs in more than 85 countries. More than 15 million people have received eye health treatment, and more than 288,000 people have received eye heath care training. Ueltschi cofounded HelpMeSee recently to address the cataract tragedy in the developing world.
Di Freeze interviewed A.L. Ueltschi for this short biography, and filled in facts with his autobiography, his book, “The History & Future of FlightSafety International.” This is not meant to be a comprehensive history of A.L. Ueltschi’s life, but it contains the major milestones in his aviation history.
About the Author:
Author and editor Di Freeze interviewed many well-known aviators during nearly a decade as editor-in-chief for Airport Journals, the founding publication of Living Legends of Aviation. She interviewed some of the world’s best-known pilots, including military heroes, celebrity pilots, aerobatic pilots, astronauts, philanthropists and entrepreneurs.
The books in the Passion for Flight series include In the Cockpit with Chuck Yeager, In the Cockpit with Bob Hoover, In the Cockpit with Cliff Robertson, In the Cockpit with Sean Tucker, In the Cockpit with Morgan Freeman, In the Cockpit with Tony Bill, In the Cockpit with John Travolta, In the Cockpit with Harrison Ford, In the Cockpit with Robin Olds, and In the Cockpit with Al Ueltschi.
Upcoming biographies will feature military greats such as Brig. Gen. Tex Hill; Hollywood director and actor Sydney Pollack; aerobatic superstar Patty Wagstaff; astronauts Maj. Gen. Bill Anders, Capt. Gene Cernan and Brig. Gen. Charlie Duke; entrepreneurs Clay Lacy, Linden Blue, and Barron Hilton; legendary golfer Arnold Palmer; country singer Aaron Tippin; comedian Jeff Dunham, and many others.
Di Freeze lives in Colorado. She also writes a blog, Same Shih Tzu Different Day, about her four rescued shih tzus: three half-sisters from a puppy mill and an owner release male.
