Scott Young checks the oil in his Beechcraft Baron airplane as he prepares for a Grace Flight of America. Young, who flies out of Lone Star Executive Airport in Conroe, has had his private pilots license since 2004 and combines his flying hobby with charitable service. He flies two missions a month for Grace Flight of America picking up patients, in a three state area, and their families and flying them to specialized hospitals in Texas. Photo by David Hopper

BY KIM MORGAN
Chronicle correspondent

The sparkle of Lake Conroe, the vividness of lush greenery, even the bleakness of sun-drenched soil, it all looks like a million bucks to Scott Young, especially when the view is from above.

Scott, 53, loves to fly.

"Flying is something I have always had a passion for," Scott said. "It's a chance to escape the physical boundaries of earth."

Scott has found a way to combine his passion with community service as a volunteer pilot for Grace Flight of America, a program that provides free flights for medical and humanitarian purposes.

"The opportunity to get out and help somebody in a significant way while I'm doing what I love to do anyway seems to be a perfect match," Scott said.

Scott's most recent flight was with a 23-year-old ex-army man from Tulsa who is undergoing treatment in Houston for testicular cancer.

"Most people are remarkably upbeat," said Scott, who has flown a variety of people including preachers, judges, surgeons, moms, dads, and kids. "To talk to them, you would never know they are dealing with something as heavy as cancer.

"But nothing is more fun than flying somebody home who has just been diagnosed cancer-free."

Scott began flying missions three years ago in a single-engine Diamond DA40 aircraft. A year ago, he bought a Beechcraft B55 Baron.

"Flying some of the longer distances at night and over forest, I decided the twin engine provides more safety," Scott said. "But I remain proficient at flying single-engine, because the aircraft flies very differently with only one engine going."

Since joining Grace Flight, Scott has flown more than 80 missions.

He tries to fly 24 missions a year, which is two a month.

But Scott takes his plane up at least once a week to retain his skill set.

"The other advantage of flying once a week is it's just flat good for the aircraft to exercise the machinery regularly," Scott said.

Scott takes safety very seriously, sparing no expense on maintenance.

"I maintain my aircraft like my life depends on it," he said.

If something does go awry, Scott maintains his cool-as-a-cucumber composure.

Once, returning from Oklahoma on a Grace Flight mission, Scott lost a fuel pump on one engine.

"I noticed I was losing airspeed," Scott said.

Just before he was about to shut down the engine and land in Dallas, Scott was able to fix the problem.

"I was able to speed back up and complete the mission," Scott said. "The passenger never knew anything."

Scott said Grace Flight aircraft are either rented or personally owned. Some are fast and some are slow, just like cars, which dictates the flights a pilot will be assigned to.

Scott can fly 400 to 500 miles nonstop, which takes two and a half hours.

"That's about the most you want to keep anybody on an aircraft without facilities," Scott said.

A mission to and from El Paso is a nine or 10 hour day for Scott, starting from the moment he steps into the hangar at the airport in Conroe.

"Long days," Scott said, "but they are an absolute joy."

While Scott's spirit soars when he's flying, his wife of 34 years is tending to the spirits of others.

Deanna is a pastor at Christ Church United Methodist in The Woodlands.

Until she felt her calling, Deanna had worked in the fitness industry for more than 20 years, as a director, personal trainer, trainer of trainers, and instructor.

Deanna will graduate in May with a Masters of Divinity from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Grace Flight, Deanna said, is Scott's ministry, but she wanted to find a way to connect her church to the cause.

"We have a prayer shawl ministry," Deanna said. "We decided to begin giving prayer shawls to patients flying with Scott. When people are crocheting or knitting them, they pray over that person, and attach a little card to the shawl that tells them."

Originally from North Carolina, Scott graduated from the University of New Orleans in 1977 with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Always interested in learning to fly, Scott was tempted to join the air force, but a hiring freeze meant he had to make other plans.

Reluctantly, Scott went into the oil and gas industry. Turns out he enjoys it so much, his one attempt at retirement "failed" and he's currently the head of development projects and planning for TAQA, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company.

"Life has been good to me," said Scott, a father of three and grandfather of four. "You just reach a stage where you feel it's time to give something back."

Scott Young, 53
Community Connection: Magnolia resident
Community Service: pilot for Grace Flight of America, www.graceflight.org
Occupation: projects and planning, TAQA, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company
Fast Fact: Young began flying lessons in 2004
Quick Quote: "I maintain my aircraft like my life depends on it."