An energized new owner of the West Chester-based Brandywine Flight School is helping take the area’s passion for flying to new heights.

In his first year, retired Incyte Corp. pharmaceutical lawyer Stephen Richards has helped the flight school double its number of both planes and instructors, according to a Daily Local News report by Pete Bannan.

“I selected Stephen Richards because of his passion, business experience, and focus on actively engaging students,” said former Brandywine Flight School owner Ted Behrle.

Richards is a glider pilot on the board of the Brandywine Soaring Assoc. who is committed to teaching new pilots the fundamentals of flying safely.

“Learning to fly requires time, sacrifice, discipline, focus, and money. You learn leadership, the ability to control a plane in space,” Richards said. “You need to be totally engaged in a changing environment. It’s a process of risk analysis and contingency planning, but you can have serious fun.”

And he’s also fostering a culture of passion at the Brandywine Flight School.

“We ask, why do you want to teach? Are they just looking to get in flight hours or do they really want to train pilots?” he said. “I’m looking for a passion and love of flying.”

Read more about the new owner of the Brandywine Flight School and his first year at the controls in the Daily Local News here.