The weather was perfect on July 9 as nearly three dozen members of the National Association of Priest Pilots headed to Medina for the group?s annual convention July 9-12.
Father Allen Corrigan, pastor of St. Victor Parish in Richfield and a licensed pilot, hosted this year?s convention. He said it?s been nine years since the 55-year-old organization gathered here. Father Corrigan, who also is secretary and a past president of the group, said NAPP is recognized by the Vatican.
NAPP promotes the use of private aircraft ?as a practical, safe and efficient tool of the apostolic work of a priest,? according to the group?s website. It also cooperates whenever possible with other aviation and ecclesiastical groups in order to promote aviation in the cause of the Church and to further the use of aircraft in the missions.
?I?ve been a pilot for 20 years,? said Father Corrigan, who is instrument certified and has 800-plus hours of flying time. ?I love to fly on weekends and days off -- when I can,? he said. Father and several others co-own a small plane and he often flies from Medina Municipal Airport, where many of the NAPP members landed when arriving for the convention.
He said 11 private planes were parked at the Medina airport. Some convention attendees drove to town while others traveled by commercial airlines. A few attendees are charter members of NAPP.
?This is the biggest group we?ve had at the convention in a while,? he added.
Attendees came from several states, including Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida. One even traveled from Jamaica. Members include priests and deacons in active ministry, some who are retired and some who are or were military chaplains. One deacon from Erie, Pennsylvania is a retired commercial airlines pilot.
July 10 events included a visit and tour to the United Airlines maintenance facility at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport;
