We're looking for a volunteer Aero 'Jumble' Coordinator

Aerobility has a network of volunteers supporting our work. We've found a great way to fundraise for the charity is to sell second hand aviation ‘jumble’ at key events. In 2016 we're looking for a dedicated volunteer who is available to organise our aviation ‘jumble’ and get it ready for sale at aviation events throughout the year.

Responsibilities:
• To organise and stock-take the goods available, as well as pricing.
• To help sell goods at aviation events across the country.
• To promote Aerobility and its values at all times.

Tasks may include:
• Sorting out ‘jumble’ and preparing it for sale.
• Pricing products ready for sale.
• Keeping a basic record of what is available.
• Selling the goods at events to raise money for Aerobility.
• Helping to list available products on the Aerobility website & other sites such as eBay.
• Help to source new stock by communicating with the flying community.

Please note that this is a voluntary role with no fixed time commitment.  It will involve travelling to events, such as air shows, throughout the year.

For more information or to discuss the role further email bridie@aerobility.com 

Thank you to the ISTAT Foundation

On Tuesday 15th December Aerobility were visited by Julian and Annette from the ISTAT Foundation who have helped pay for new avionics in our PA28 G-BMFP aircraft.

The upgrade to our aircraft is going to make a significant difference to its usability and ability to support our disabled flyers.

We thank them for their support and look forward to continuing our relationship with the Foundation in the future.

Aerobility Volunteer Christmas Party

On Tuesday 15th December Aerobility invited it's team of dedicated volunteers to Blackbushe for a Christmas Party to thank them for their support throughout the year.

The group enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and an Aerobility quiz. Thank you to everyone who came along and made it a fun evening.

In 2015 Aerobility provided it's aviation services to over 500 disabled people, an achievement which could not have been met without the support of our wonderful volunteers!

AEP How We Fly

For the last AEP lesson of 2015 the students looked at How We Fly. 

The session started with the basic principles of flight - Lift, Weight, Thrust and Drag.   As a fun exercise the students then built propeller driven cars and tested them in the Aerobility Hangar to see how well different designs performed.  The first lesson learned was to make sure the car goes in the right direction!  The team went on to discuss how different designs influenced aircraft performance. 

To finish off Alan, our volunteer Engineer, had the students check the Aerobility Cherokee 6 to ensure it was ready for flight.  Let's hope that Alan can put the Cherokee back together again before it is next due to fly!

A Merry Christmas to all the AEP Students and Mentors and see you again in 2016.

Aspiring Pilot’s Celebrate Silver at Aerobility

Four Surrey Choices customers celebrated today at Blackbushe Airport with a certificate presentation in front of family and friends after successfully completing the silver phase of the Aerobility Aspiring Pilot Programme (APP).

Ashley Ruffle, Zoe Taylor, and Justin Munday, who all attend Surrey Choices’ Camberley Community Group, and Stephen Marlow, who attends its Farnham Community Group, took part in Aerobility’s first ever Aspiring Pilot Programme (Bronze) in April 2015. The Silver phase is the second milestone of the course which the group embarked on in October of this year.

The four-week course included flight training in a light aircraft and in a simulator, alongside a series of classroom-based lessons on aviation-related subjects.

Aerobility CEO, Mike Miller-Smith commented on how far the students have progressed since arriving at Aerobility. ‘The students have shown great development since the beginning of the Aspiring Pilots Programme. During the Silver phase they have bonded as a group, developed their basic literacy and concentration skills and increased their understanding of aviation’.

Zoe, age 40, said she had enjoyed the course so much that she now wants to complete the Gold stage of the course. During the course the students learned about communicating using the radio, and controlling the aircraft themselves which included turning, climbing and descending to land.

Aerobility Service Development Coordinator, Bridie Collins added ‘We couldn’t provide this service without the help of our volunteer mentors and thank Tony, Mireille and Paul for their ongoing support. The Aspiring Pilot Programme is one of Aerobilitys most successful ground based services to date and we hope to work with Surrey Choices in the future developing the range of programmes available for people with learning disabilities.’

Aerobility Christmas Cards and 2016 Calendar

Our 2016 original photography calendars are perfect stocking fillers this Christmas! A bargain at £10 each.

They are available to buy online or from HQ at Blackbushe Airport.

http://shop.aerobility.com/aerobility-calendar-2016-and-christmas-cards-packs-2015-17-c.asp

The Aerobility Christmas cards are a great way to show your support and raise awareness of Aerobility too! £10 for 12 cards.

All proceeds go to Aerobility.

Merry Christmas to all our friends!
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Breitling Watch Raffle

Congratulations to John Tye from Walton on Thames who was drawn as the lucky winner of the Breitling B50 watch. The winning ticket was drawn by Gavin Murphy from Breitling UK and Red 10 Mike Ling at the Aviators Ball on Saturday 28 November 2015. 

Thanks to everyone who supported us by taking part.

Aerobility are looking for part-time or full-time instructors

Aerobility are looking for part-time or full-time instructors (preferably unrestricted) to come and join the most wonderful charity you can instruct at. We operate a number of aircraft including EASA's first production adapted Tecnam and Piper PA28's and PA32 with hand controls. We require you to be able to work in the UK and most of all be adaptable in your approach to teaching. Aerobility cover a full spectrum of disabled flying so can offer a great opportunity for adaptable instructing techniques.

Aerobility operate from Blackbushe (EGLK) all year round and have fantastic facilities - including our own heated hanger!

A quote from one of our part-time instructors sums up what he thinks of working at Aerobility:

'Instructing for Aerobility is the best instructing role I've ever had; competitive pay and genuinely gives me more daily satisfaction than any other flying I do or have done.'

Send your brief CV to Mike Owen, CFI Aerobility at MikeOwen@Aerobility.com outlining your experience, licence and ratings and your availability.

See www.aerobility.com for further details.

The Aviators Ball silent auction goes live!

An exciting first for Aerobility and the Aviators Ball, you can start reviewing and bidding on the fantastic range of silent auction items right now.

If you're coming to the event, take some time to browse through the items, start bidding now, or bid for on the night using your smartphone or the supplied iPads on every table. You can also preview the great live auction items in advance of the evening (no bidding until the night though!)

If you are not coming to the Aviators Ball you can still participate in the silent auction. Follow the link, register and start bidding!

Go http://aviatorsball.auction-bid.org/ to and take a look at the great range of lots, follow the instructions to register and start bidding!

Aviation Film Night - Tuesday 8th December

Where? Aerobility HQ, Blackbushe 
Date? Tuesday 8th December 2015 
Time? Arrival and Pizza 6pm, Film from 6.30pm.

Join us for a night of entertainment and fun on Tuesday 8th December. The Aerobility Team will be ordering pizza and watching one of three aviation documentaries.

Once you have registered your interest in attending you will then be given the opportunity to vote for which documentary you would like to watch on the night. This event costs £5 per person to be paid on the night and includes pizza.

The documentaries available to choose from are: 

One Six Right - A documentary film that celebrates the unsung hero of aviation - the local airport. 

Black Sky - The Race for Space and Winning the X Prize with Burt Rutan.

An Airfield in England – documentary about Lasham airfield which includes archive footage of the launch of the first Aerobility aircraft.

To book your place at the evening and vote for the documentary you want to see contact bridie@aerobility.com 

AEP Engineering

Saturday 21st November saw the AEP look at engineering.  The boys looked at the different types of engineering and discussed how both a combustion engine and a jet engine works.  They looked at real engine parts and then took part in a matching activity where they had put the correct parts to the description.  All the boys seemed to know their way around an engine and I'm sure there are a few engineers of the future amongst them!

Aerobility celebrate easyJets 20th anniversary

On the 10th November easyJet celebrated its 20th anniversary  by holding an event at its head office at Luton Airport.

Aerobility were honoured to be invited to the event. Aerobility CEO Mike Miller-Smith attended with easyJet Captain and Aerobility Volunteer Harriett Pound and easyJet Flight Operations Manager Chris Foster.

The event was a fantastic success looking back over the past 20 years with an exhibition of memorabilia and a catwalk of uniforms. easyJet have marked 20 years by introducing a loyalty scheme for their frequent flyers.