It is a surprise to many disabled people that flying is very much a possibility for people with a range of disabilities, indeed disabled flying can provide a level of challenge and exhilaration that may be difficult to find anywhere else.
The British Disabled Flying Association is a registered Charity and was established to offer people with disabiliies opportunities in aviation, which is achieved in a number of ways:
• Promoting access to suitably equipped aircraft and organisations (flying schools, gliding clubs, etc) throughout the UK;
• Ensuring low cost flying is available for disabled people;
• Developing aircraft adaptations;
• Providing specialist advice;
• Forging relationships with government bodies and aviation organisations;
• Assisting past Flying Scholarships for the Disabled scholars and applicants.
Flying is one of the few “active” pastimes where disabled people can participate to the same degree as an able bodied person. It can rebuild confidence and restore self-esteem through the mental & physical challenges of flying a light aircraft. This, in turn, empowers people to explore their potential by extending their persona, mental and physical boundaries.
The BDFA owns two aircraft – a Bulldog and a Cherokee – both of which have been modified to accommodate disabled pilots. The Cherokee has been fitted with a hand control and wide walkway, whilst the Bulldog has a hoist that allows the BDFA to cater for most, if not all, disabilities. Experience volunteers are based around the UK and Area Coordinators have good working relationships with local airfields so that the BDFA can offer “Flying Days” throughout the UK. Presently both aircraft are based at Lasham Aerodrome in Hampshire but they are regularly taken to local airfields where volunteers arrange Flying Days for members.
By working with EU aviation and medical regulators the BDFA has had considerable success in enabling those with physical disabilities to achieve both private and commercial pilots’ licenses.
The BDFA has, in part, been funded historically via membership fees and this has enabled the BDFA to offer subsidised flying for our members. By subsidising the cost of flying we believe that we can attract more disabled people into the world of aviation, which has proven to provide rehabilitation and goal orientated benefits to disabled individuals.
