Woman with no arms gets her wings

SAN MANUEL, Ariz. - Jessica Cox was born without arms, so she uses her feet to do almost everything. That includes flying a plane.

Several years ago, Cox was offered the opportunity to fly by Wright Flight, an aviation company that uses flying to motivate children.

Her father encouraged her to get on board, and she's never looked back.

During the last three years she's logged close to 100 hours and recently earned her certification as a pilot.

She is a student at PC Aircraft Maintenance & Flight Services and she takes to the skies as much as she can.

Parrish Traweek, her flight instructor, said she's among the best.

"When she came in here we knew she'd be able to do it just because of the drive she had," Traweek said.

Cox says the journey to get to this point wasn't easy.

"A lot of people have maybe doubted me or don't believe that a girl, a woman without arms can do much," said Cox while she did her pre-fight by herself. She uses her feet to fill out her log book and check the oil and fuel on the plane.

Cox graduated from the University of Arizona in 2005 with a degree in psychology; she currently serves as a motivational speaker but also has hopes of being a flight instructor.

"When you're behind the yoke and you're soloing for the first time and you don't see your instructor you realize you're flying, you realize you have your life in your own hands, in my case my feet," she said.