Armless Fil-Am pilot offers to fly Arroyo over Arizona

Jessica Cox, the armless Filipino-American pilot, has offered President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo a tour around Arizona on board the single-engine Ercoupe 415 plane that she used to get her pilot's license. Cox extended her invitation Monday afternoon during her courtesy call to President Arroyo at Malacañang's Music Room. “If ever you have an opportunity to come to Arizona, I'd love to fly you," the 26-year-old Tucson resident told President Arroyo, who smiled in response. Cox, a Psychology graduate from the University of Arizona, was the first-ever pilot licensed to fly using only her feet. Aside from being a pilot, Cox is also a two-time black belter on taekwon do, an excellent swimmer, a dancer, and a piano player. She also drives her car on her own. President Arroyo congratulated Cox for her feat. “It's an honor to be with you and to be able to tell you how proud we are of you," she told her.

Inspired Cox, talking about her visit to the country, said she was inspired when she saw Tagaytay City and the world-famous Taal Volcano from the air on board a Cessna plane after the holidays. “It was beautiful. I want to fly here more often," she said. She later told reporters that she “fell in love with the beauty of the Philippines from above" while flying the Cessna using her feet with a co-pilot from Air Ads. Cox said her dream is to fly her mother over her hometown in Guiuan, Samar, and land on a small military strip near it. She said she would meet up with her mother there on Tuesday. Mrs. Obama During their meeting, Cox told President Arroyo that she would meet US First Lady Michelle Obama at the Pentagon in March when she speaks about women in aviation during the Women's History Month. “Ooooohhh!" the President exclaimed upon hearing this. “Have you met her?" Cox asked President Arroyo, who replied, “No, just the [US] President [Barack Obama]." Before they parted, President Arroyo told Press Secretary Cerge Remonde that Filipinos should be able to hear what Cox would say in Washington. Cox, for her part, said it was an honor to have met President Arroyo, describing her as her role model. “She will remain a role model to me...She can handle a country," she said. - KBK, GMANews.TV