On SUNDAY 30th May 2010, Freedom in the Air (FITA) will be hosting an ‘Introduction to Aviation’ day beginning at 10:30 from Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire. The day is named, for obvious reasons, Freedom Wings and, with the support of Cranfield Airport, will be Freedom in the Air’s second at the Airport for the 2010 summer flying season.
10 people with a mixture of disabilities from Attitude is Everything will have the chance of a lifetime to experience the freedom of flight, in the hope that it may expand their horizons when they attend the “Freedom Wings” day.
Attitude is Everything began as a pilot project in September 2000 as a response to Deaf and disabled people’s desire for fair treatment at music venues, clubs and festivals. They set out to address an apparent lack of awareness in the music industry of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and its obligations.
For full story click here (PDF file)
On May 9th 2010, I will be doing a wing walk to help raise awareness for Freedom in the Air, in particular 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.
“Freedom in the Air allows people with disabilities to push back boundaries and experiences something that they could never have imagined. The freedom of flight has really transformed people’s thoughts and opinions and changed attitudes towards those with a disability”
Mick Dhillon, Chief Executive, The Disability Resource Centre.
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.
The ten young participants, come from a variety of organizations (such as PHAB club, the Autistic Society, Barnardos, the Disability Resource Centre, the Young Carers Association and so on) will learn all about being a pilot, before having their own private 20 minute experience flight in a light aircraft with family members, where – if they wish – they can take control of the aircraft. Continue reading ‘Freedom Wing walk: May 9th 2010 at Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Essex’
03
Jun
The first time i met William Hynett, Britten-Norman’s Group Chief Executive was over a beer at Aero Expo 2007, High Wycombe. BN is the only independent aircraft manufacturer left in the UK. They also assemble Cirrus in their factory on the Isle of Wight. I went there once in a PA28 out of Lasham. Andrew Mackay-Johnstone (one of the trustees of Aviation without Borders) is a very close friend of the man who runs Cirrus and promised to take me flying in a Cirrus SR22 - the same planes that BN assemble…I found this great picture of an Islander (also made by BN) on the web
02
Jun
This article is by Kelly Armstrong who flew with Gautam Lewis, on January 27, 2008 EGTC – EGTC, 3 circuits and local Visual Flight Rules flight (VFR)
It is a crisp sunny Sunday afternoon that will see me taken up into the skies by newly qualified and keen-as-mustard pilot, Gautham Lewis. I will be his second charge since those wings were earned and look forward to experiencing first hand the fruition of many months of hard graft.
We approach Cranfield Airport – an airstrip in Northampton that has long swapped its spitfires and bombers for less deadly machines – and make our way through a series of former military barracks, set in neat little rows, buildings that now house students studying aerospace engineering.
Cranfield has rather a cosy feel to it, a sharp contrast to the overbearing and fortified nature of international airports. Once past the security gate, Continue reading ‘A day getting high’
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