A Flagler County pilot and flight school instructor is now offering flight lessons to teens who are dealing with the loss of a parent in a sudden death in law enforcement and military.

"When I first went up in the plane, it was a really amazing feeling," said student Albert Mills.

Mills, 14, was going through a tough time in his life before he got into Col. Jack Howell's Teens in Flight program.

"When they're in the air with us they leave all that baggage on the ground," said Howell.  

For 10 years it has served at-risk, underprivileged, and teens who lost a parent in the military.

But now Howell said after watching the recent horror stories of law enforcement officers gunned down in Dallas and Baton Rouge--teens who lose a parent in the line of duty will now get to fly.

"I can relate definitely to the horror that happens when an officer is down and I know firsthand that these kids are suffering," said Howell.

The teens spend hours in the classroom and inside the plane learning how to fly, but it's the donations that keep this engine running. That's because the program is free.

"One-hundred percent of what we get goes to the kids," said Howell.

Howell said they basically make them feel like a million bucks.

"When I look over at a student and they realize that they're actually flying an aircraft, I see that big Chester cat grin- that's my paycheck, that's what it's all worth," said Howell.

"I got into this program and he helped me with problems I had with my mom and now I'm fine. I'm like better than ever. I'm very thankful there's nothing that compares to it right now," said Mills.  

Howell said all students who have participated in his program have gone to college on scholarship or went into the military.

If you're interested in taking your teen to the school or helping the program: https://www.facebook.com/teensinflight/?fref=ts.