Air Smiles Day at Gloucestershire Airport – 05.02.2022

Memories and Smiles

We had a lovely day this weekend, delivering a special Air Smiles Day at Gloucestershire Airport for a local family.

The family arrived at the airport on Saturday morning and after a short time settling in the Departure Lounge enjoying drinks and biscuits, they all met Liv the Pilot

Due to the complex needs of the children, we decided that the best possible experience would be to taxi along the runway, to provide all the sensory experiences of a flight, the sounds, smells, sights, and feelings, without the risks that might be associated with getting airborne and spent time discussing the best options for the day.

After their safety briefing, the children and Dad settled into the Piper Warrior PA28, courtesy of Aeros Flight Training and we waved them off as they taxied along Runway 22.

During the taxi experience the family seemed to enjoy the motion and they commented on the sounds they could hear from the control tower. On the boy’s face a unique long-lasting smile and on the girl’s a sure feeling of happiness as she helped the instructor.

As they returned to the Departures Lounge,  there was just time for a few more biscuits and then the presentation of certificates and a goody bag each, with our new Douglas Bear and keyrings making their first appearance as special gifts for the family.

It was such a lovely day, and we received a really special email afterwards, letting us know that the children were on a real high after the experience and that they loved the fly2help hat!

Air Smiles Days truly are days for everyone, and each event is tailored to provide exactly the right experience for each family, to make special memories and provide exciting opportunities that lead to a lasting sense of achievement and accomplishment.

This day was sponsored by The Air Charter Association and it’s members and we are proud to be their “Charity of the Year”!

Please get in touch if you know of a family that would love an Air Smiles Day, we are here to support everyone who needs our help. You can also go to Air Smiles – Our Programmes – Fly2Help and Nominate someone using our online form.