Black Pilots of America - Pine Bluff Grider Field

Black Pilots of America, Inc. (BPA, Inc) is a non-profit flying organization established in 1997. Membership is open to anyone who shares the aims and purposes established in the preamble of our Constitution and Bylaws and have a primary focus on providing an atmosphere for everyone to learn to fly and perhaps own airplanes. Members include men, women and youth aviation enthusiasts from all walks of life and various backgrounds and experiences. Chapters are located throughout the country and all interested potential new members are invited to contact a chapter official for additional information about joining the chapter. The Chapter at Large is available to those who are not strategically located near an existing chapter.

There are four major events conducted by Black Pilots of America, Inc. The Annual Board of Directors Meeting is held January of each year during the Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday weekend, the Memorial Day Fly-In "Operation Skyhook" is normally held in Pine Bluff, AR, the Summer Flight Academy open to youth between the ages of fifteen and nineteen is held at Texas Southern University in Houston, TX during the month of July and the Annual General Membership Meeting held in August at various locations.

The largest event attended is the Memorial Day Fly-In "Operation Skyhook". Member chapters arrive for a weekend of fun, aviation comradery and serious flying competition. The majority of competitors owns their aircraft and takes great pride in showing off their most prized possession. The event draws a tremendous number of spectators from the surrounding area which results in BPA, Inc. members volunteering to give airplane rides to hundreds of enthusiastic kids.

We culminate "Operation Skyhook" with an awards banquet at which time trophies are awarded to the members whom have demonstrated their superior flying skills as well as the chapter with the highest accumulated points. There is also an individual "Top Gun Award" for the supreme pilot accumulating the highest number of points. It is a fun time for our members and all in attendance.

You are invited to join BPA, Inc. and take advantage of what we have to offer. Take this opportunity to browse through our website and make contact with the chapter nearest you. We also request constructive feedback about our website.