5 August 2016
Teams from NATS took the honours at Aerobility’s Big Pull event last weekend. One team, Prospect ATCOs Branch, raised an astonishing £6,500 while another, Terminal Control at Swanwick set the fastest time pulling a Piper Cherokee 6 along the runway at Blackbushe Airport.
The money raised by all 12 teams who took part has gone to Aerobility, the charity that offers disabled and profoundly ill people an experience of a lifetime by helping them to learn to fly an aeroplane.
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.
Donations to the teams’ efforts can still be made at https://mydonate.bt.com/events/bigpull
