Albert Ueltschi

Ueltschi, Albert
Albert Lee Ueltschi, Aviation Training Pioneer, 95, founder of Flight Safety International, the world's leading aviation training company, died of natural causes on October 18th at his home in Vero Beach, Florida, surrounded by family, friends and devoted caregivers. Mr. Ueltschi was born on May 15, 1917 in Franklin County Kentucky. He was the youngest of seven children, four brothers and two sisters who preceded him in death. In 1927, living on a dairy farm in Kentucky, he listened to the radio as Charles Lindbergh made his way across the Atlantic. He decided then and there to become a pilot. He soloed at 16, earning money for flying lessons by selling hamburgers for a nickel a piece in a restaurant he started called "Little Hawk." He purchased an airplane for $3,500 after convincing a local banker that he wouldn't crash the collateral. The loan was repaid. After "barnstorming" around Kentucky and Ohio, giving flying lessons, and putting on airshows, he joined Pan American World Airways in 1941. Soon after, Juan Trippe, Pan Am's founder and President was looking for a pilot to fly him around the country in a fast converted WWII airplane, the forerunners of today's business aircraft. He considered his selection by Trippe one of the luckiest and most important one in what was to follow. With permission and encouragement from Trippe, he started Flight Safety Inc. in 1951 working part time. With a small office within LaGuardia's Marine Air Terminal, a secretary, a typewriter and $15,000 in capital from mortgaging his home, he opened for business. His idea was to give corporate pilots the same level of training as airline pilots. His company's motto remains "The Best Safety Device in Any Aircraft is a Well Trained Pilot." In January 1968, he took the company public. That same year Juan Trippe retired from Pan Am and so did he. He could now devote all his attention to building Flight Safety. Later, the name would be changed to FlighSafety International to reflect its worldwide operations. FSI employs more than 4,200 people in 40 facilities around the world. It operates the largest fleet of flight simulators. Flight Safety Academy in Vero Beach was established in the mid 1960s and is the only training facility devoted to primary pilot training. Flight Safety International was acquired in late 1996 by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway. Mr. Ueltschi was honored as the recipient of the 1991 National Business Aircraft Association's Award for Meritorious Service to Aviation and in the same year, he also received the FAA - Federal Aviation Administration's "Award for Extraordinary Service." In 1994 the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, perhaps the most prestigious of the nation's aviation awards, was presented to the Frankfort, Kentucky-born schoolboy who was inspired by Lindbergh's Atlantic crossing. Ueltschi followed in Lindbergh's footsteps to receive the Wright Brothers Trophy, also in the footsteps of Juan Trippe, who was honored by this prestigious award in 1966. Aviation Week magazine awarded its Laurel Award to Mr. Ueltschi at a 1995 Washington ceremony, citing his Lifelong Achievement in aviation. In July of 2001 - in the 50th Anniversary year of the founding of FlightSafety - Mr. Ueltschi was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Dayton, Ohio. This 40-year old aviation tradition is one of the highest honors in the aviation world. Again, he followed in the footsteps of his aviation inspiration - Charles Lindbergh, who was inducted in 1967 and his aviation mentor Juan Trippe, who was a 1970 National Hall of Fame inductee. The National Aeronautic Association presented Mr. Ueltschi with its Elder Statesman Award in November of 2001, and in December he received the NBAA's American Spirit Award. The Aero Club of New England presented its Godfrey Cabot Award to Ueltschi in June, 2003. The Aero Club, which was founded even before the Wright Brothers first flew, cited Mr. Ueltschi's "unique, significant, and unparalleled contributions to foster aviation."The Canadian Business Aircraft Association presented their first Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Ueltschi in June 2006. The award was presented for his contribution to aviation safety in Canada. Philanthropically, Mr. Ueltschi supported Orbis International from its founding in the late 1970s. He served as its chairman. In 2010, he was named Chairman Emeritus. Orbis is best known for the "flying hospital" which has visited almost 90 countries in the developing world providing training to local doctors. Mr. Ueltschi was presented with the ORBIS Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2006 for his contributions to eliminating unnecessary blindness around the world. In 2010, Mr. Ueltschi cofounded HelpMeSee with his son, Jim, for the purpose of addressing cataract blindness in the developing world. Twenty million of the world's poorest people are blinded by cataract. They represent almost 50% of all treatable blindness. Taking the learning systems developed in aviation training, including very high fidelity simulation devices and modifying them for medical training purposes, HelpMeSee intends to train many thousands of cataract specialists to serve their local communities in the areas of greatest need. On September 18, 2012, he signed The Giving Pledge. This project was initiated by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett Mr. Ueltschi enjoyed playing golf with his son and other friends. He was a member of Hawk Nest Golf Club and Bent Pine Golf Club. Previously, he was a long time member of The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Survivors include his daughter Anne Lee Ueltschi of Charlottesville, Virginia, his son James Tyler Ueltschi and his wife Jean of Vero Beach, Florida, son in law, John Rickert of Rye Beach, New Hampshire, 12 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren and "Bailey" the best dog and friend in the world without a doubt. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Eileen who died in 1974. Two daughters, Patricia Rickert and Nancy Gavin died in 2010 and 2011 respectively. His family is very grateful to his caregivers, especially Robert Buan and his grandson Matthew Walden of Charlottesville, Virginia. The funeral service will be private. A Celebration of Life service will follow at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to HelpMeSee, 1560 Broadway, New York, NY 10036-1537 or at www.helpmesee.org.