Aerobility to Exhibit at Farnborough International Airshow 2024

Aerobility, a UK based aviation charity offering disabled people, the opportunity to fly and participate in aviation-based activities, will be exhibiting at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) during July 22-26, 2024 (Stand E040) as it celebrates the flying debut of its latest fleet addition, the homebuilt two-seat Zenair CH750 STOL aircraft.  G-ICAN flew from Aerobility’s home at Blackbushe Airport (EGLK) to Farnborough Airport (EGLF) earlier this week under a special permit from the UK Light Aircraft Association (LAA).

Zenair CH750 STOL

Dave Groves, Project Manager, with the Zenair

The ‘Building a Dream’ project was first announced at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2018.  It was a pledge to build an aircraft ‘one rivet at a time’ with a team of disabled and able-bodied volunteers. In the process, Aerobility gained stellar support from corporate and individual contributors. The charity will be sharing details of the build, originally kicked off during FIA 2018 by team members of The Red Arrows.

Diversity, equality and inclusion – Aerobility speaking at FIA 2024

Aerobility will be fielding a 20-strong team at FIA 2024, led by CEO Mike Miller-Smith MBE and supported by Advocacy Manager, Harvey Matthewson.

Mike Miller-Smith MBE, CEO, Aerobility

Harvey Matthewson, Advocacy Manager, Aerobility

Diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I) feature high on the agenda this year and Aerobility will be leading the charge. Harvey, himself a disabled flier, will participate in a panel session on Wednesday, July 24 at 1400 hrs in Hall 3, Area 3100, titled: ‘Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Aerospace’. Organized by Aerospace Xelerated who provides startups with funding, mentorship and support to help them turn ideas into a successful business, the session will focus on how DE&I is at the heart of what an organization does. The session will conclude with Mike Miller-Smith joining a Q&A.

On Friday, 26 July at 11.55hrs in the Aerospace Global News Theatre, Hall 4, Harvey will deliver a keynote session entitled ‘Disability Inclusion. Why Bother?’ Backed by case studies, it will highlight why disability inclusion is vital for the industry and how it can improve the productivity of organizations and the quality of services for customers. The session will also discuss the work and vision of the industry initiative, The Equal Skies Charter (Equal Skies Charter) which calls on the aviation industry to promote inclusion.

In other news, Aerobility continues to work with the UK Space Agency through and in collaboration with King’s College, London on a feasibility study to help generate data that aims to make spaceflight accessible to people with physical disabilities. “Aerobility connects the disabled community with academia to ensure that the really important questions are asked and answered in order to enable the disability community to travel into space like everyone else. Even small adjustments to equipment can make space more accessible,” said Mike Miller-Smith. Aerobility and King’s College London will be conducting live research on the stand at the show.