Gerry Crisp, Mayor of Yateley: Wing walking for Aerobility!

Gerry Crisp has been a long-time supporter and close friend to Aerobility for the last four years and we are delighted to announce he will soon become an Aerobility Wingwalker!

Please click here and give whatever you can to help Gerry reach his £600 fundraising target.

In Gerry's own words, here is why he has chosen to undertake this challenge of a lifetime:

"Since beginning my term as Mayor of Yateley, I was made aware of Aerobility and their amazing Vision; I may not be able to walk, but you should see me fly!
 
I was hugely impressed with the incredible positivity shared by all who are a part of this amazing charity, many with profound disability, blessed with inspirational leadership from their CEO, Mike Miller-Smith.

Each of my four years as Yateley Mayor I have looked to raise funds for my nominated charities with bucket list challenges. I now look forward in anticipating my role as Chairman of Hart, to also become an Aerobility Wing Walker!

Thank you to each of my sponsors for showing your support for this unique charity, as I undertake this exciting challenge."

Left: George Bacon, Right: Mayor Gerry Crisp

Your chance to skydive for Aerobility!

Would you like to take part in Aerobility's first ever charity skydive?

Could you raise just £450 in four months?

We don’t like to do things by halves, so our aim is to see 100 people jump in support of Aerobility, by taking part in The Big Skydive.

Working with GoSkydive, the UK's leading tandem skydive specialist based in Salisbury, we can ensure you have the most incredible experience possible at the same time as doing something else amazing and raising valuable funds for our charity.

All the information about the event and how to book your place can be found here - who is brave enough to be our first to sign up?!

Can people with a disability take part?

As a charity working with disabled people, Aerobility is keen to make this event as accessible as is safely possible. Although the ‘health requirements’ declaration may look daunting, we are delighted to confirm that GoSkydive are committed to support us in this aim.

If you have always wanted to skydive and are confidently able to adopt the safe freefall and landing positions, then please still complete the declaration and get in touch with Laura@Aerobility.com. Together with GoSkydive, we will do our best to make this experience possible for you.

With Special thanks to Jake Groves for initiating this event - here's why...

"I’m 17 years old, and completing my last year of A-Levels. I’m also a student pilot having started my flight training on my 14th Birthday and flying solo on my 16th Birthday. 

I aspired to raise money for charity because I wanted to do more with regards to giving, but also to raise more awareness for my chosen charity, Aerobility. 

I chose Aerobility over many other incredibly deserving charities because they do something close to my heart. No matter what may prevent someone on the ground, Aerobility gives people the ability to pursue their dreams to fly.

I discovered Aerobility at my local airfield, where I got chatting with a disabled pilot from the charity. I saw first-hand how Aerobility makes a positive impact on the lives of their flyers and from then on in, I was committed to helping this extremely worthy cause in any way I could. What better way than to jump out of a plane at 10,000ft with a parachute strapped to your back?!"

Please join us.

It is always touching when we are contacted out of the blue by someone who wants to support our charity and Jake is no exception. This event is totally his vision and we hope you will help us turn it into a reality by becoming part of The Big Skydive today. 

Thank you SkyDemon!

It was great to catch up with our supporters at SkyDemon yesterday, who have supported Aerobility with funding towards flight training for Damian Hunter and Harvey Matthewson.

Tim, Hannah and Rob were able to personally meet Damian and Harvey, as well as check out our facilities: this included a flight in our simulator.

Thank you again to SkyDemon and their valuable partnership!

Thank you Persimmon Homes!

Last Thursday 13th April, our Fundraising Officer, Laura, was invited to join Susanne, Meg and Zak from Persimmon homes at their Easter fundraiser.

The team, who will become Aerobility wing walkers on 26th May, had prepared a feast of Easter treats, cakes and hot cross buns for their colleagues, in exchange for a donation towards the team's wing walk fundraising target.

Laura commented, "It was great to finally meet and get to know our wing walking team from Persimmon, who are clearly putting out all the stops to hit their fundraising target!"

A huge thank you to Persimmon Homes, who continue to be a valuable supporter and Partner of Aerobility.

Calling all volunteers!

Saturday 29th April - Lions Flying Day

Volunteers are required for the Lions Flying Day to assist with a group of 18 participants expected along with their families and carers.

We are expecting the Beaver and the Westland Scout helicopter from the Army Historic Flight to be also flying participants alongside Aerobility planes.

There will also be some ground-based activities, SIM, model making, buggy tours. Lunch will be provided.

This day will also see the press launch of Blackbushe75 Anniversary Event, so please don't be camera shy!

Please let gail@aerobility.com know if you can come along to help.

Exciting new job opportunities at Aerobility!

Chief Operating Officer - up to £45,000

This senior new role will ensure the effective and safe delivery of day to day service operations including all key processes that enable professional flight and ground instruction for the provision of trial flights, aviation experiences, flight training and disability support services offered by Aerobility.   

Business and Administration Officer - circa £30,000 

To provide high quality and sustainable administrative and management support to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Head of Marketing Communications, Fundraising and Engagement to ensure the successful delivery of day to day service operations and events. To manage back-office internal processes – financial including bookkeeping, invoicing and payroll, reception, bookings, calendaring, IT and office management.

For more information on either of these roles please contact mike@aerobility.com by Monday 24th April. 

BWPA 2017 Scholarships

BWPA is pleased to award seven Scholarships to successful women applicants this year. As for last year, all applications this year are via the BWPA Website, and this year, all applicants must be members of the BWPA (full or associate) at the time of application, and on the closing date (15^th April 2017).

Two of the scholarships are, as for last year, the BWPA Flying Start Scholarship and BWPA Flying High Scholarship. Both these scholarships are for £1000, and both are available for any type of flying, from ballooning through to helicopters, and all points between.  As the names suggest, the BWPA Flying Start Scholarship is available for new and very inexperienced pilots to gain their first qualifications, whereas the BWPA Flying High Scholarship is available for more experienced pilots with at least a first qualification who wish, for example, to gain further qualifications or take part in significant competitions, or to undertake other suitable activities to help them further their personal flying aims. 

New for this year is the BWPA Saul-Pooley Renewal or Revalidation Scholarship, with a value of £500. This had kindly been donated by Dorothy Saul-Pooley, and as the name suggests is specifically towards the renewal or revalidation of a lapsed licence or rating, and is available for fixed wing or helicopter flying.

We are again able to award this year the now ‘traditional’ BWPA CATS CPL/ATPL Scholarship, donated by CATS Aviation Training, Luton for the full value of their Groundschool CPL/ATPL (A or H) course, and this year it is joined by a further two scholarships donated by Bristol Groundschool, the BWPA Bristol Groundschool ATPL Scholarships, each for half the value of their ATPL (A or H) course. 

The BWPA CATS CPL/ATPL Scholarship and the BWPA Bristol Groundschool ATPL Scholarships are for applicants with at least a PPL (A) or (H), and relate to the ground school elements of a CPL or ATPL (A or H). Applicants must also be capable of obtaining a Class 1 medical. What is (and what is not) included in these Scholarships aimed at pilots intending to make a career in flying, is detailed on the application forms, along with the necessary qualifications for application.

Now announcing our seventh Scholarship for 2017 – the BWPA Air Total Scholarship 2017, worth £1000. This has very kindly been donated for the successful BWPA applicant by Air Total Aviation Fuels. The award is available for any type of directly engine-powered flying, to pilots with at least a first qualification, to provide support towards a particular personal or more unusual flying challenge. Examples might include (but are definitely not restricted to) air racing, a navigation competition, a flight to an uncommon destination, a mountain flying course etc. etc. If you have an interesting project in mind – apply! The award will be made to the female pilot who, in the opinion of the selection panel describes the most realistic, feasible, well planned and interesting project along with demonstrating a high chance of completing the project. (The panel also reserves the right to make no award if no suitable candidate is identified). The panel will include a representative from Air Total Aviation Fuels.

Whatever type of flying you do, from balloons through to commercial training, application for all the scholarships is via the BWPA Website, and the application forms, which include details of how to apply, are now available on the BWPA Website. As usual we are also advertising these scholarships as widely as possible, and in liaison with other flying organisations, to reach the widest possible audience. The scholarship selection panels will comprise BWPA members plus representatives from other relevant flying organisations.  Applications are all by e-mail, as they were last year.

The closing date for all applications is Saturday 15^th April 2017, and the winners will be notified in late spring, in time for the 2017 summer flying season. All those awarded BWPA 2017 Scholarships will also be invited to the BWPA Christmas Lunch on December 10^th 2017, the venue for which is yet to be announced.  

We encourage all potential and current women pilots to consider joining the BWPA (if not already a member) and applying for a scholarship; joining the BWPA directly helps to support our scholarship programme now and into the future. BWPA Membership is not restricted to UK citizens or residents, although the scholarships will generally be UK based.  Applicants may apply for more than one scholarship, provided they satisfy the relevant criteria for each application.

Good luck from the BWPA Scholarship Team; February 2017.

All application forms can be found here!