(from left) Operations Manager Nick Bird and Ollie Pennington promote festive gift flights for budding pilots
Christmas is an important time for many who harbor the ambition to learn to fly. Bournemouth Airport based flight training centre Airways Aviation’s Managing Director Ollie Pennington says that 30% of all gift vouchers for Trial Flying Lessons for either planes or helicopters sold in a year are Christmas gifts purchased, often by parents or grandparents, for a family member.
“We find that many recipients of this great Christmas gift are keen to put their flight into a log book so that it counts towards the number of hours required to get their Private Pilot’s Licence. Many an airline captain flying the airways high over Dorset will have started his or her career thanks to a thoughtful gift from a relative.”
Ollie started his own career in aviation by starting his flying at the age of 15 after getting a gift voucher and gained his Private Pilot’s Licence for planes at the age of 17, then for helicopters at19. Some people are legally able to fly before they can drive.
“We are pleased that a very high percentage of the gift vouchers we sell do get used throughout the year to experience the fun of flight over our beautiful coastline and countryside.”
