Date: 8/18/2021
WESTFIELD – A new flight school hosted its official ribbon cutting at Westfield Barnes Regional Airport this month, in a ceremony featuring city and state officials.
Fly Lugu Flight School began in 2020 and offers flight courses at Barnes. Founder Fredrika Ballard said that she earned her flight instructor credentials Aug. 7, 2019, exactly two years before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I never would have dreamed that I would be able to start a flight school here at my home airport,” said Ballard.
She said that the “Lugu” in Fly Lugu comes from something her father used to say: “Look Up, Go Up.”
She said she saw that there wasn’t a regular flight school at Barnes when she returned to Westfield two years ago, and decided to fill the void herself. She said that Fly Lugu has trained more than 100 people, and 25 of their students have their own pilot ratings already.
Westfield Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. congratulated Ballard and handed her a citation from the city in celebration of the school’s ribbon cutting, which had been delayed due to the pandemic. Humason also took the time to praise Barnes’ presence in Westfield.
“[Look Up, Go Up] reminded me of something the Mass. Airport Manager’s Association used to say when they talked about airports,” said Humason. “If you build a mile of road, you can travel a mile. If you build a mile of runway, you can travel anywhere.”
State Rep. Kelly Pease gave Ballard a citation from the state’s House of Representatives, and praised her ability to open the flight school and keep it open during the pandemic. Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Eric Oullette issued a citation as well, on behalf of the chamber.
Airport Commission member Kate Phelon called Ballard an inspiration to young women and girls who are interested in aircraft or engineering.
She said she considers aviation to be a part of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Phelon encouraged Ballard to get involved with Westfield’s schools and hopefully inspire more girls to become pilots in the future.
“They could be future 104th pilots,” said Phelon, referring to the Air National Guard wing stationed at Barnes. “Who knows, you never know.”
Barnes Airport Manager Chris Willenborg said that Ballard and Fly Lugu have had a positive impact on the airport and its culture.
He said he looked back at the airport’s operational numbers since Fly Lugu became airborne.
“We had over 45,000 takeoffs and landings here last year. Already this year we are at a 46 percent increase from last year’s numbers,” said Willenborg.