UK’s first Virtual Aviation Experience for disabled people launched
Image courtesy Aerobility
The Virtual Aviation Experience (VAE) being launched by Aerobility, the disabled flying charity, is supported by the Department for Transport and will open up the world of aviation to a community of people that might previously have felt it was beyond their capability.
Applications for the first 20 places on VAE are now openwith the first course due to start on April 24th. The aim is to provide 1,000 flying experiences a year by 2025.
VAE flyers will receive three one-hour sessions, made up of a 30-minute ground briefing followed by a 30-minute, simulator flight directed by their pilot or instructor. Delivered over three days, each one builds on the previous session until flyers can make decisions, manage a workload, and practice hand eye co-ordination while developing situational awareness including interacting with others, without leaving their homes.
Mike Miller-Smith, CEO of Aerobility, said: “The Virtual Aviation Experience is the merger of flight school and simulator and delivers it to any disabled person throughout the UK through their computer.This exciting new programme will help us support those disabled people who are unable to make it to our centres at Blackbushe Airport and Tatenhill Airfield.
“It will also provide a realistic introduction to piloting one of Aerobility’s aircraft, so should the bug take hold, VAE flyers will have a head-start when coming to fly with us for real.”:
The courses will be led by Aerobility pilots, volunteers and flight instructors and will be free of charge for those who get a place on one of the courses. The courses are for adults and children aged 12 and above. Applicants should be able to control a computer.
After completing the course, those interested in furthering their aviation experience, can visit Aerobility at Blackbushe in Hampshire or Tatenhill in Staffordshire to book more flying experiences.
VAE flyers will also receive a certificate of completion.
Mike added: “VAE is for beginners, people who have never had the chance to fly an aeroplane before. Everyone with a disability who has dreamed of experiencing the freedom of the skies can now do so from their home with VAE.
“I really encourage anyone who has dreamed of flying a plane to apply for one of the VAE places - it could change your life.”
To apply for a place: www.aerobility.com/virtual-aviation-experience
