Smiles all round at Airbus supported Air Smiles Day!
More than 30 young people enjoyed a very special Air Smiles Day at Bristol Airport last weekend sponsored by Airbus.
Filton, Friday 28 April 2017: Airbus teamed up with leading UK aviation charity fly2help, to run an action packed flight-themed day for young visitors and their families, hosted by the Bristol and Wessex Aeroplane Club.
The guests, aged seven to 22, came from local groups of the British Heart Foundation, the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Young Carers Support Centre.
The young people enjoyed a thrilling pleasure flight over Bristol and North Somerset bathed in spring sunshine, met Bristol Airport’s police team, local cadets and the highly trained police dogs, found out all about the Airport’s fire engines, and took control of their own aircraft on board the flight simulator.
Airbus graduates and apprentices also ran interactive experiments to demonstrate how aircraft fly, showing the young people how to operate remote controlled model aircraft, wing flaps and wind machines.
Calum Morris, aged seven from Bradley Stoke, has a life-limiting heart condition and joined the event from the British Heart Foundation. He said, “I just went in a plane – I can’t believe it, it was so cool! And I met Douglas Bear, the police and firemen, today’s been the best!”
Hannah Lind, who attended the event from the Teenage Cancer Trust said, “The young people who attended from the Teenage and Young Adult cancer team had such an amazing time. There were some great activities to entertain us and we learnt a lot from the lovely volunteers from Airbus. Everyone went home very tired, having had a wonderful experience that they will never forget.”
Sue James, Young Carers volunteer, said “What a fantastic day they’ve all had, they haven’t stopped smiling from start to finish and the experiences they’ve had have been brilliant, the staff from Airbus and the other Smiles volunteers, pilots, fire crew & police gave them experiences they will never forget and their happiness and enjoyment was a joy to see”.
Alison Pavier, Chief Executive Officer at fly2help added, “It was fantastic to work with Airbus to create this special day. More than seventy volunteers were involved, from Airbus, Bristol Airport, the Bristol And Wessex Club and pilots and team leaders who came for the day. An ‘Air Smiles Day’ can be a life-changing experience, giving young people and their families the chance to be adventurous, forget about the challenges they face for a day and have a lot of fun.”
