Helping Wings weekend

Helping Wings held their first event of the year at the weekend (Sunday 21 April). Throughout the day, volunteer pilots completed 14 flights for young people who are disabled, or who would not otherwise have the opportunity to fly a plane, and their families.

The Ports of Jersey Partnership also sponsors Helping Wings to provide flying lessons, and seven Helping Wings students received three days of flying lessons from Mike Owen at Aerobility.

Aerobility is a UK based registered charity which uses a specially adapted plane to allow the disabled community to access the magic of flying.

Chairperson of Helping Wings, Eveline Hawkin said: “We all had a wonderful afternoon, and after the flying experience all the students and their families went home with massive smiles on their faces. It’s such a rewarding day for the volunteers as well as the participants, and it’s great that Ports of Jersey sponsor the bursary and that their staff also come out to help make this event such a success.”

Helping Wings is a Jersey charity which aims to share the excitement of flying in a light aircraft with local Jersey residents who would otherwise not get the chance.

Since its inception in 2008, with the support of Aero Club members, volunteer pilots and partners, more than 1000 guests have enjoyed a flying experience either by participating in an activity day or on individually arranged flights.

Those guests range from children as young as five through to our more senior citizens.