NATS raises £6,500 for Aerobility charity

04 August 2016

On Saturday 30 July teams from NATS, Prospect ATCOs Branch, the union representing UK air traffic controllers and charity Aerobility pulled a Cherokee 6 aircraft along the taxiway at Blackbushe Airport raising more than £6,500.

The money raised has gone to Aerobility, a charity that offers disabled and profoundly ill people an experience of a lifetime by helping them to learn to fly an aeroplane.

Overall winners were a team of air traffic controllers from Terminal Control at Swanwick, who pulled the aircraft in an impressive 33.29 seconds.

Paul Winstanley, Prospect ATCOs Branch Chair at NATS and a Trustee at Aerobility, said: “It was a fun day out for everyone involved raising money for an extremely worthwhile cause. It was great to see a disabled team competing for the first year.

“We’ve been supporting Aerobility since 2010 for the work they do, which is incredibly inspiring. I’m delighted we were able to raise the money to help support peoples’ dreams of flying come true.”

Chief Executive of Aerobility, Mike Miller-Smith said: “What an amazing experience, the atmosphere was incredible as the crowd cheered each team as they pulled the aircraft along the taxiway. What a fine celebration of our relationship with the staff of NATS, a hugely positive friendship which genuinely changes lives, and what a fantastic fundraising result!”

The Big Pull event was held as part of Blackbushe Air Day, which included various aircraft displays and competitions, all of which was supporting the charity.

There were 12 teams in total competing in the Big Pull – most of these were from NATS, but others from outside the organisation took part to support the charity.

Donations can still be made at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/bigpull

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