Mount Pleasant Magazine 6.3

“The dues are $20 a year, but we don’t really keep

track,” he explained during an interview at Craft Flight

Training & Simulation, his flight school at the Charleston

International Airport.

McCurdy, a flight instructor since 2002, has no real

interest in establishing stricter membership guidelines – you

don’t have to be a pilot to join – but he does want to raise

the organization’s awareness in the East Cooper commu-

nity. The Association already contributes by participating in

Relay For Life, which raises funds to fight cancer, and also

helps out with Boy Scout and Girl Scout events. Members

have even joined search parties for avian residents of The

Center for Birds of Prey who have lost their way.

And, on occasion, members are called on to carry out a

more important job.

“Some people, usually radiation patients, can’t take long

flights, so we carry them on shorter hops,” said Pat Waters,

longtime treasurer of the organization, grandson of legendary

military icon Gen. George Patton and my guide and pilot

during a short flight around and above East Cooper. “A pilot

might bring the patient from Jacksonville to Charleston, then

another one takes the patient from Charleston to Raleigh.”

“It’s just fun and it makes you feel good,” Waters said.

On the social side, members of the East Cooper Pilots

Association participate in the South Carolina Breakfast

Club. The organization has been flying into small airports

in South Carolina and surrounding states every other

Sunday since 1938. They eat a large breakfast together and

Photos by Brian Sherman.

Photo by Brandon Clark.

Pat Waters flies his bright yellow Varga above Fort Sumter.

Cecil McLeod aboard his Cessna 195.

Tommy Teasley cranks his Piper Club Special.