UK military charity Wings for Warriors has announced the opening of a new flight training school in Gloucestershire later this year, training medically discharged veterans who want become commercial pilots.
Charity founder and CEO Mark Radcliffe says: “What we do isn’t just about flying. It’s about opening the unique and privileged world we exist in as aviators and using it to inspire inspirational men and women in need of some luck to aim high and keep going.”
‘Wings’ was founded in 2012 after a chance meeting between Radcliffe (then employed as a flight instructor) and an amputee Royal Marine who harboured a dream to be become a pilot.
Since then, the charity has worked with many veterans, including former Royal Engineer Sam Taylor – who was shot through the neck by a sniper in Afghanistan – and who has recently started his flying career with TUI on the 737.
Radcliffe told FTN that the charity is launching a dedicated flight training centre for veterans from their base near Gloucestershire Airport later this year, which we look forward to reporting on as the project progresses.
Meantime, ‘Wings’ is looking for help from anyone with something to contribute to the charity, whether on a voluntary basis or looking for a permanent role.
This includes both flight and ground instructors, with the charity also offering to assist with the cost of re-validating instructor privileges of volunteers willing to commit to providing regular help.
To learn more about opportunities with Wings for Warriors, Radcliffe invites interested parties to contact the organisation by email.
Image accredited to Wings for Warriors
