His five-day Freedom Flight Tour called at various airports in England, Wales and Scotland. Destinations on the tour included Blackpool, Carlisle, Islay, Edinburgh, Lands End before touching back down at Cranfield.

He spent up to four hours a day in the cockpit of his Cessna 172 plane, using Union Aviation hand controls. The tour is to promote the newly designed ‘freedom control‘ developed in partnership with Cranfield University school of Aerospace Engineering. The new ‘freedom control’ will enable people with lower limb disabilities more opportunities and greater inclusion in general aviation. The new ‘freedom control’  have been designed to give more choice in what aircraft can be flown across the Piper and Cessna range, such as the PA28, Cherokee, Archer to the C152, C172.

Gautam set up FITA in October 2007, one month after receiving his private pilot licence.

He said: “I thought maybe I should do something positive about supporting disabled people, help them learn new skills and push them to a new level of confidence.

“It’s trying to show what we can do regardless of disability.”

Although the Freedom Flight UK Tour, 2011, is not a fundraising event, Gautam wants to spread the word about the launch of the new ‘freedom control’  during the Paralypmic which will be held in the UK during 2012.

Many flying schools up and down the UK have shown great interest in the new controls and the units will be certified in 31 EU countries and in America.

Please visit our supporters:
cranfieldflyingschool.com
cranfield.ac.uk

Variety Club the children’s charity in association with Freedom in the Air and Cranfield Flying School this week selected  the first young person with a disability  for a unique scholarship that will allow a young person to achieve a National private pilots licence (NPPL) over the summer holidays.

Shelbi Grist (17) suffers from McCune Albright Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder as well as Polistic Fibres Displacia, a rare bone disease and Focal Nodular Hyperplacia, a liver complaint.  Even though Shelbi has a rafter of disabilities she has never let this stop her fulfilling her dreams and is currently activity involved in sport having received her National Diploma of Sport and is in a national wheelchair basket ball team while in full time education studying Sports Therapy. Based in Portsmouth, Shelbi travels all over the UK to play basket ball and will be attending her pilot training twice a week for the next 10 weeks.

Based in Cranfield Airport near Milton Keynes, the scholarship was open to all young people between the ages for 17 – 19 with the primary aim to simply enable disabled young people the opportunity to realise their full potential through the pleasure and thrill of flying. After many weeks of searching for the right candidate Shelbi Grist was selected.

Shelbi will complete over 40 hours of dual and solo flying as well as intensive exams to achieve her National Private Pilot’s Licence which will give her full command of an aeroplane and in doing so change her life.

The programme has been funded by Freedom in the Air, Cranfield Flying School, Pooleys Flight Equipment and the De Vere Venues, part of the De Vere Group/MWB who have to date raised over £1.3m on behalf of the Variety Club through staff fundraising and corporate events.

Keith Andrews Chairman of Variety At Work commented “I am so proud to be able to offer this unique opportunity to such a fantastic candidate. I would like to thank Gautam Lewis at Freedom in The Air and all the pilots at Cranfield for making this a reality for Shelbi. Huge thanks to Freedom in the Air, Cranfield Flying School and De Vere Venues for funding this scheme. We wish Shelbi good luck.”

FITA founder Gautam Lewis, who uses crutches after contracting polio as a child in India, wants to show people disability is not a barrier to achievement. As an orphan growing up in the care of Mother Teresa, he believes that his calling in life is to help others less fortunate and celebrate in the spirit that the sky’s the limit.

He said: “I thought maybe I should do something positive about supporting disabled people, help them learn new skills and push them to a new level of confidence so that they can have opportunities.

“It’s trying to show what we can do regardless of disability.”

Together we intend to show that anyone can reach for the skies, and achieve virtually anything, sometimes with only the very smallest amount of support.

The World report on disability, mandated by the World Health Assembly and jointly published by WHO and the World Bank, summarizes the best available scientific evidence on disability and makes recommendations for action in support of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). About 80% of people with disabilities worldwide live in low-income countries. People with disabilities are often among the most socially and economically disadvantaged and their rights are denied in many countries. Despite the enormity of the problem, scientific information on disability is lacking. There is no agreement on definitions and little internationally comparable information on the incidence, distribution and trends of disability.

The World report on disability addresses the need for better research and data on disability. It will include the first update of WHO’s disability prevalence estimates for more than thirty years. The World report on disability also explores current evidence about disability, including on discrimination and barriers, identifies needs and provides an analysis of what works to improve the lives of people with disabilities in the areas of health, rehabilitation, support services, information, infrastructure, transportation, education and employment.

The WHO Director-General and a Vice President of the World Bank launched the World report on disability on 9 June 2011 at the United Nations headquarters, New York, in the presence of high-level representatives from Member States, celebrities with disabilities, together with representatives of disabled people’s organizations, professional groups and non-governmental organizations. This will be followed by a half day technical session on how to implement the recommendations of the World report on disability.

To promote the World report on disability and its messages, four short films are being launched between December 2010 and June 2011 on the theme “What’s disability to me?”, featuring women with disabilities from the United Republic of Tanzania, Lebanon, United Kingdom and the Plurinational State of Bolivia talking about their lives and the barriers they have overcome.  The films will be available on the WHO YouTube channel, and via links on the WHO Facebook page and the WHO main website. Leading up to the launch, the goal is to build an online community to mobilize international interest and support for efforts to remove barriers to the participation of people with disabilities in their societies.
“Disability is part of the human condition,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan at a ceremony in UN headquarters to launch the report. “Almost every one of us will be permanently or temporarily disabled at some point in life.”

“We must do more to break the barriers which segregate people with disabilities, in many cases forcing them to the margins of society,” Dr. Chan said.

Etienne Krug, a WHO disability specialist, suggested that the barriers themselves are a cause of disability.

“Disability results a lot from the barriers that society erects for people with disabilities,” he said, “barriers such as stigma and discrimination; such as lack of access to health services and rehabilitation services or problems of access to transportation and buildings and information services.”

Speaking to UN Radio, Dr. Krug called for the “mainstreaming of all services. That means to make everything accessible. Children with disabilities shouldn’t go to school to a segregated school, but rather be integrated in a normal school as much as possible.

“Employment should be accessible to people with disability so that they don’t have to live in poverty or from charity. Health services should be designed so that they also respond to the needs of people with disabilities. So basically all services should be accessible to people with disabilities.”

The famed British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), told the launch via video: “We have a moral duty to remove the barriers to participation for people with disabilities, and to invest sufficient funding and expertise to unlock their vast potential. It is my hope this century will mark a turning point for inclusion of people with disabilities in the lives of their societies.”

The barriers mentioned in the report include: stigma and discrimination; a lack of adequate health care and rehabilitation services; and inaccessible transport, buildings and information and communication technologies.

“As a result, people with disabilities experience poorer health, lower educational achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities,” WHO said.

The report recommended that governments and their development partners provide people with disabilities access to all mainstream services, invest in specific programmes and services for those people with disabilities who are in need, and adopt a national disability strategy and plan of action.

In addition, governments “should work to increase public awareness and understanding of disability, and support further research and training in the area. Importantly, people with disabilities should be consulted and involved in the design and implementation of these efforts.”

Nearly 150 countries and regional organizations have signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and 100 have ratified it, committing them to removing barriers so that people with disabilities may participate fully in their societies, WHO said.

On 11 June 2011, Freedom in the Air (FITA) is holding its first skydive Freedom Freefall day. Supporters from across the country will join us at Peterborough Sibson airfield drop zone to take part in this amazing challenge and raise money for FITA.

Monies raised will go towards our Freedom Wings project. Freedom Wings is a wonderful opportunity to introduce disadvantaged or disabled youngsters to the freedom experienced in the air. A day in a light aircraft, safely taking control of the plane for a short time is a life-changing experience and enables young people to feel that they can reach for the skies and achieve virtually anything. Flying is one of the few activities where disabled people can participate to the same degree as an able-bodied person. The exhilarating experience rebuilds confidence and restores self-esteem. This, in turn, empowers people to explore their potential by extending their personal boundaries. In the air, we all fly at the same speed; nobody is disadvantaged or disabled.

FITA is very proud to be associated with The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows . The Red Arrows have generously offered a VIP Day for 2 (unfortunately they cannot fly the winners) for FITA to raffle during the Freedom Freefall fundraiser. The winners will get to spend time with the pilots, look around the airfield, learn about how the team develop their aerobatic displays and have a special day to remember for forever. This is an incredible prize and we cannot thank the Red Arrows enough for their support. Runner up prize draw prizes include a VIP Weekend backstage camping pass for two at V-Festival 2011. The final prize is a 30 mins ride in a aerobatic aeroplane doing loops and barrel rolls.

We have planned several Freedom Wings days for the 2011 summer flying season with organisations such as, The Forces Children’s Trust (FCT) – supporting children that have lost a parent whilst serving with the Armed Forces, Raiders Wheelchair basketball team, Northampton County Council Disability Services to name a few. The Freedom Freefall fundraiser will help us raise enough funds to be able to support 300 young people with disabilities the chance to have a flying lessons.

How to take part

Application Details

Contact us for a skydiving pack by filling or call 020 8740 8806, leaving your name, postal address, telephone number. If you’re ready to sign up, you can register on UK Parachuting website.

Date and Location

The skydive will take place on 11 June 2011, at Peterborough Sibson Airfield.

Cost

The minimum sponsorship amount is £300. While jump costs at Peterborough Sibson Airfield are approximately £170, and will be paid by entrants on the day of the jump.

Conditions

Participants must be 16 and above, those under 18 need parental consent. A medical form will also need to be completed.  Those under the age of 18 will need the medical form signed by a parent or guardian; those aged 40 and over will need it signed by their doctor.

Deadline

The deadline for booking is 20 April 2011

Skydive throughout the year

If you can’t make it for our Skydive day, you can also take part in the challenge at a location closer to you. UK Parachuting have several jump sites around the country and you can choose to jump throughout the year. All you need to do to take up this opportunity is raise the minimum sponsorship of £300. Contact us for more information.

Why skydive for FITA?

• You will be raising money for FITA’s vital work in promoting and creating opportunities for people with disabilities in Aviation.
• Help us cover costs of developing, manufacturing and distributing hand controls for pilots with lower limb disabilities.
• You will receive information about how your fundraising helps young disabled people through our Freedom Wings Project
• You will be supported by a dedicated member of FITA Team in the build up to your jump.
• You will receive a fundraising pack, with loads of ideas so help you reach your fundraising target.
• You will receive a free FITA T-shirt.

How your fundraising will help?

FITA works tirelessly to promote aviation for people with disabilities. Our practical programmes help introduce thos with disabilities to the wonder of flight and the boundless possibilities it offers. Your support is greatly appreciated. The sum you raise it will make a real difference.

Raise £90 and you could buy a flying experience flight for someone with a disability or from the underserved community

Raise £1,400 and you could sponsor a mini scholarship that would enable a disabled person to have 10 hrs of flying lessons – where they could get to fly solo if they pass 2 exams

Visit our partners UK Parachuting, who are co-organising the event.

Each year the project focuses on a different area of aerospace vehicle design and aims to enhance current thinking on new and innovative aircraft concepts for the future

Since working on the hand control project for disabled pilots, Cranfield University has been teaching all their Msc Aerospace Vehicle Design to design cockpits to accommodate both disabled and non disabled pilots. Current student Stefan Fischer will present the final phase of this project at the industry presentation.

http://www.freedomintheair.org/loop-magazine-has-tea-with-fita-new-hand-controls-for-disabled-pilots/

The 2011 project is looking at the design of an advanced tilt-rotor aircraft, the V-10 Sparrowhawk. There has been recent interest in the application of the tilt-rotor concept to civil aviation. The concept offers the speed and altitude capability of the turbojet combined with the flexibility of a helicopter. Such a vehicle could fill a number of niches in the aviation market.

The Group Design Project has been an integral part of the Aerospace Vehicle Design course since the very beginning. It aims to provide students with the opportunity to work as a team in a ‘virtual industrial’ environment through which the knowledge and skills acquired from the taught lecture modules can be applied to a real aircraft design project.

Freedom in the Air is very proud to be associated with The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows. The Red Arrows have generously offered a VIP Day for 2 (unfortunately they cannot fly the winners) for FITA to raffle during the Freedom Freefall fundraiser.

On 11 June 2011, Freedom in the Air (FITA) is holding its first Freedom Freefall skydive day. Supporters from across the country will join us at Peterborough Sibson airfield to take part in this amazing challenge and raise money for FITA. 25 Freedom Freefallers will be taking part in the fundraiser to raise funds and awareness for the Freedom Wings project.

Freedom Wings is a wonderful opportunity to introduce disadvantaged or disabled youngsters to the freedom experienced in the air. A day in a light aircraft, safely taking control of the plane for a short time is a life-changing experience and enables young people to feel that they can reach for the skies and achieve virtually anything. Flying is one of the few activities where disabled people can participate to the same degree as an able-bodied person. The exhilarating experience rebuilds confidence and restores self-esteem. This, in turn, empowers people to explore their potential by extending their personal boundaries. In the air, we all fly at the same speed; nobody is disadvantaged or disabled.

Acknowledged as one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team is the public face of the Royal Air Force. The Red Arrows promote the professional excellence of the Royal Air Force, assist in recruiting, contribute to Defence Diplomacy and support wider British interests through the promotion of British industry overseas.

Commanded by Squadron Leader Ben Murphy, the Red Arrows consist of over 100 officers and airmen drawn from throughout the Royal Air Force. Officially formed on 1 March 1965, the Team have now performed over 4,200 displays in 53 different countries. The Red Arrows are based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

This prize is a unique opportunity for two people to visit the Red Arrows at their base in the winter training period in late 2011 – early 2012. During the visit, you will meet the Team’s pilots and support staff as they train for the next year’s summer display season.

The day includes:

• A presentation on the activities of the Red Arrows, given by one of the squadron’s officers
• Sitting in on the pilots’ pre-sortie brief
• Weather permitting, watch a flying display practice
• Have a photograph taken with the pilots in front of one of the aircraft
• Watch the pilots’ debrief session
• A buffet lunch with team members
• A guided tour of the Hawk aircraft by one of our engineers

Please be advised that the programme will be subject to the weather and operational commitments. This is an incredible prize and we cannot thank the Red Arrows enough for their support.

We have planned several Freedom Wings days for the 2011 summer flying season with organisations such as, The Forces Children’s Trust (FCT) – supporting children that have lost a parent whilst serving with the Armed Forces, Raiders Wheelchair basketball team, Northampton County Council Disability Services to name a few. The Freedom Freefall fundraiser will help us raise enough funds to be able to give 300 young people with disabilities free flying lessons.

“I drive a car and I sail, but flying is new to me.  You leave the wheelchair on the ground, no restrictions and you carry on – its confidence, its freedom, its fantastic. I did not want to land the plane and just fly off into the sunset..”
Janette Marsland – Freedom Wings Pilot With the PHAB Club, July 2010.

We wish to thank some incredible people at EASA, for their help and assistant toward the certification of the new controls. Roger Hardy, Certification Manager General Aviation, has been instrumental at giving valuable guidance and shown enthusiasm towards our project to help guide us through the certification process. Furthermore, we do not know how to thank enough, EASA Executive Director Patrick Goudou. When he heard about the project, he was enthusiastic and needed to persuasion in wishing to help FITA and has given generous support with the application process.

We have submitted the application for the STC, for certification in all 31 EASA countries. We have partners in New Zealand, Australia and North America who are ready and waiting to get the controls approved with grandfather rights via their aviation authorities, such as FAA and CASA.

further reading….

This film is from our last Freedom Wings day of 2010. Our guest were from Ability media, which is an initiative by Leonard Cheshire Disability designed to help talent emerge and over time achieve greater representation of disabled people working in the media and creative industries.

This film will be broadcast on the Community Channel in the next few weeks. Once we have a transmission date, we will let you know.