One’s Higher Self

Founded in 1993, Aerobility is a U.K. charity about the commendable mission of providing disabled individuals access to the liberating, self-affirming, independence-fostering challenge of piloting an aircraft.

Across the broad sphere of human endeavor, few undertakings instantiate freedom from restriction so powerfully as flight. This axiomatic truth is particularly well understood by Aerobility’s founders and staff, many of whom are, themselves, disabled aviators.

Through various fundraising initiatives and thoughtful management strategies, Aerobility allows disabled individuals to get behind the controls of an aircraft for a fraction of the commercial rate.

On 22 June 2023, Aerobility announced Chris Selway, a 56-year-old paralyzed man from Warmley in Bristol has mastered the basics of flying an airplane after having been awarded one of the organization’s scholarships.

Speaking to the motivations by which he was compelled to apply for subject scholarship, Mr. Selway, who suffers from T7 Complete Paraplegia—paralysis of the lower limbs resultant of damage to the spinal cord—stated:  “I needed a challenge, something to focus on and a goal to aim for.”

Mr. Selway, who’s harbored an interest in flying since boyhood, remarked:  “I have tried numerous types of flying over the course of my adult life, and the opportunity to have some sponsored lessons in a proper aircraft was just too good to pass up.”

Appreciative of the opportunity afforded him, Mr. Selway set forth he was “absolutely delighted and, to be honest, surprised” to receive the Aerobility scholarship.

“Every lesson brought a new challenge and I seemed to be moving forwards quite quickly,” Selway added. “What was absolutely daunting on my first flight started to become more natural as time went on.”

Aerobility CEO Mike Miller-Smith explained: “We offer scholarships to ensure anyone can fly with Aerobility, we know how participating in aviation changes lives and we want as many people as possible to experience that. We can only do this because of the generosity of our donors and supporters—so we thank them very much indeed for making this possible for Chris.”

FMI: www.aerobility.com