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Free
as a Bird – Flying with the British Disabled
Flying Association
Julie is pleased
to announce that she has accepted BDFA’s
amazing offer to become Patron and hopes to
support the charity to raise lots of money to
help people with disabilities to be able to
fly and realise their dream.
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| It often comes as a surprise that
disabled people can and do learn to fly aircraft
of all types. Free from the limitations of a disability
and the restrictions of life on the ground, disabled
people of all ages can experience a sense of freedom
that is hard to surpass. |
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The history of
disabled aviation goes back to the early days
of flight itself. In 1931 RAF Flying Officer
Douglas Bader lost both legs in a flying accident.
After learning to walk with artificial legs,
he managed to convince the RAF that he could
still fly, going on to play a heroic part in
the Battle of Britain on 1940, finally being
shot down and imprisoned in the infamous Colditz
castle.
After the war he built a flying
career with Shell aircraft, and was the President
of the Royal International Air Tattoo from 1976
until his death in 1982. In 1983, RIAT’s
flying Scholarships for the Disabled was founded
and dedicated to Bader's courage and determination
in the face of disability. |
In 1992, RAF pilot Tim
Ellison was involved in a flying accident
when his Harrier jet suffered engine failure
at 120 feet during a hover manoeuvre.
The accident left Tim paralyzed from the
waist down.
Tim was determined to return
to flying, but back then legislation wasn’t
in place to allow a paraplegic to fly
in the UK. This wasn’t the case
in the US, so Tim moved to America for
three years to earn a living as a pilot.
In 1994 Tim gained his FAA commercial
flying licenses and worked as a forest
fire-fighting pilot until, in 1997 he
became the first paraplegic in the world
to gain an FAA Airline Transport Pilot's
license.
In 1993 Ellison co-founded
the British Disabled Flying Association
because his passion for flying made him
determined to continue flying despite
his disability, and to ensure that others
could do the same. When he returned to
the UK, Tim threw his energies into the
BDFA and into finding a way around the
bureaucracy. These issues have now been
resolved, and today anyone who is disabled,
providing they are medically fit to fly
can hold a private or indeed commercial
pilot’s license. |
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Legal problems overcome, and
hand control systems becoming more widely available
(for those without leg function a hand control
is used in place of rudder pedals), the BDFA
of recent years has evolved into the UK focal
point for disabled aviation.
The BDFA has the broad aim of
providing aviation opportunities for disabled
people through:-
• Making flying available for disabled
people.
• Developing aircraft adaptations
• Giving specialist advice
• Forging relationships with government
bodies and aviation organisations
• Assisting past Flying Scholarships for
the Disabled Scholars.
Through the medium of flight
the BDFA helps disabled people to discover their
true potential through the mental and physical
stimulation of learning to fly. The challenges
they face and overcome enable them to find new
confidence and self esteem in rising above their
own personal life difficulties and help them
view the future with greater self -assurance. |
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In January 2005, securing
the patronage of multiple paralympic champion
Dame Tanni Grey –Thompson, MBE,
OBE, and Judy Leden, MBE, multiple world
hang gliding champion, further raised
the profile of the BDFA.
Almost all aircraft types
are suitable for disabled pilots –
han-gliders, para-gliders, micro lights,
gliders and powered aircraft are all being
flown by disabled aviators in the UK.,
and there are a number of specialised
training schools. Although disability
is often defined by the use of a wheelchair,
it can actually take many forms, and in
many cases disabled pilots can simply
train alongside able-bodied pilots at
any training school.
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Things can be more
problematic in the case of wheelchair users,
as in many cases specially adapted aircraft
are needed. However, more and more of these
aircraft are becoming available- the hand control
systems are simple and inexpensive. Some aircraft
are easier to use than others – Pipers
in particular are very “wheelchair friendly”
because of their low wing height. For those
with less mobility who are unable to perform
the “bum slide” into the aircraft,
some schools have hoists – in almost all
cases, if there is a will, there is a way!
Details of schools already equipped
can be found at www.bdfa.net
For disabled pilots training
to achieve a private pilot’s license,
these days there are few special requirements.
Before the first solo flight it may be necessary
to have a medical flight test – basically
for the examiner to determine that the disabled
pilot is able to control the aircraft as well
as an able bodied person with the same level
of training, otherwise the training process
and the number of hours training required will
be the same as for any other student pilot.
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Once qualified, a disabled
pilot before flying abroad may need to
apply for permission in advance. Usually,
having sent a copy of the license, together
with a medical certificate and covering
letter to the country’s aviation
authority, permission will follow quickly.
However, it is advisable to plan well
in advance!
Similarly, as in the UK,
facilities at foreign airports for those
with mobility issues vary tremendously
– again, it is advisable to plan
ahead to ensure that the right level of
help is available.
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The British
Disabled Flying Association Bulldog Project
In June 2003 the BDFA received
a gift it could never have dreamed of - four
Bulldog training aircraft from the Commander
of the Royal Jordanian Air force, Prince Feisal
of Jordan.
The Jordanian Royal family's
links with the BDFA and Flying Scholarships
for the Disabled have extended back many years,
with the late King Hussein sponsoring a number
of individual scholarships that have provided
amazing opportunities for disabled people to
learn to fly or improve their aviation skills.
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| The future vision of the
BDFA is to create a purpose built flight
training facility, run by disabled people
for disabled people. The Bulldog aircraft
are the first step towards this groundbreaking
initiative, which will enable many more
disabled people to become involved with
something that they once thought was impossible.
The Bulldog Appeal is a major fundraising
effort – the cost of getting the aircraft
airworthy, adapted for disabled pilots and
certified for use in the UK is considerable;
the appeal aims to raise £100,000
over the next 2 years. |
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Thanks to many
generous sponsors and the hard work of BDFA
members and supporters, the first completed
Bulldog was launched in July 2005, unveiled
by Lady Bader, widow of Sir Douglas Bader, and
it is already at work, based at Lasham (near
Basingstoke) furthering the profile of the BDFA.
Our aim is to get a second aircraft into service
in 2006, possibly based in the North.
Whether it is assisting someone who is inspired
to attempt to try aviation for the first time,
or someone who needs specialist advice and guidance
on adaptations and training, the BDFA can help. |
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