£82,000 Raised for Aerobility at the Aviators Ball

London, 13th December 2010

The Aviator’s Ball http://www.aviatorsball.co.uk a glamorous annual event in the aerospace industry calendar organised by the flying charity Aerobility http://www.aerobility.com was held on 27th November at the Sofitel Hotel at Heathrow’s Terminal 5.

Aerobility is pleased to announce that the ball was a great success, raising £82,000 for the flying charity.

Over 400 people attended the evening, with notable guests including Gerald Howarth, Minister for International Security Strategy, TV entertainer Jon Culshaw and the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic team. After a gourmet three course meal guests had the chance to bid on some incredible auction prizes, from a high speed taxi run in the Vulcan XH558 to a Breitling Aerospace watch.

A key moment in the evening came when Mr Howarth read out a personal message of support for Aerobility sent to him by the Prime Minister. John Culshaw then entertained the audience with humorous celebrity impressions and the night was rounded off with dancing to live music from the Big Kahuna Band.

The Aviators Ball is the main fundraising event for Aerobility each year, with the money raised contributing enormously to the charity’s annual running costs.

Mike Miller-Smith, CEO of Aerobility said:"Without doubt this year’s Aviators Ball was our most successful yet. We cannot hide from the current global economic situation, yet with the unwavering support of our existing sponsors, our new sponsors and the generosity of our brilliant supporters, we have raised a record breaking sum for the charity."

“Not only that but we have been inundated with such positive comments about the event, everyone genuinely had a great evening and are already putting Saturday 26 November in their diaries for the 2011 Aviators Ball. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped make the evening possible."

Gerald Howarth MP, Minister for International Security Strategy added, "Aerobility is doing a remarkable job in affording those with a disability the opportunity to engage their passion for flying. I am particularly pleased that we are able to include a number of those who have suffered serious injury on recent military operations."

"The amazing generosity of the guests at the Aviators Ball reflects the huge support there is for this project and will enable us to fund many hours of flying instruction. The Ball has established itself as one of the highlights of the aviation calendar, thanks in large measure to the inspirational leadership of Mike Miller-Smith and his team."

Aerobility is a charity that owns and operates specialised aeroplanes in order to provide trial flights and experience days for the disabled community, as well as Private Pilot’s Licence (“PPL”)

training. In 2010, Aerobility helped over 320 people with every conceivable disabling condition, from physical impairment, through to learning and sensory disabilities experience the joy of

flight. Aerobility is also providing flight training for wounded servicemen.

1. Aerobility is a British charity (reg. 1081804) that introduces the gift of flight to the disabled and the terminally ill

2. The charity was founded in 1993 and until 2010 was called the British Disabled Flying Association (‘BDFA’)

3. Aerobility achieved charitable status in 2000 and its Patrons are Gerald and Lizzie Howarth

4. Aerobility flight training is regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (“CAA”)

5. Aerobility is a User Led Organisation (“ULO”) and provides advice, knowledge and advocacy for disabled people who wish to fly