Aviation disability charity, Aerobility, appoints Neil Tucker as its new Chair of the Trustee board, after taking over from Shona Bowman, who has been in this role for the last 14 years. After almost losing his life and ending up with a profound disability, he was determined to fly again.
A Little About Aerobility
Aerobility is a UK-based registered charity, founded in 1993, that provides disabled people (including, but not limited to, physical, learning, and mental health impairments) the opportunity to fly airplanes.
Operating from bases such as Blackbushe Airport and Tatenhill, they offer introductory flights, subsidised training for Private Pilot’s Licences and virtual simulation sessions. They have over 1,000 participants annually.
This company uses accessible facilities, such as adapted aircraft (e.g., Piper Warrior 161), and provides support for various physical disabilities. They also conduct flying days for other disability charities and community groups, often on temporary detachment at airfields across the UK.
Speaking about the appointment, CEO Mike Miller-Smith, stated:
“Both myself personally, and the wider charity, are incredibly grateful to Shona for her many years of support, dedication and leadership,”
“Equally I very much welcome the opportunity to work with Neil and continue to develop the great work of the charity.”
The New Chair: All About Neil Tucker
Neil, a lifelong aviation enthusiast, took his first flight at the age of 17, but his journey at Aerobility began in September 2018, after being involved in a life-changing motorcycle accident. During this incident, he lost a leg and the use of his left arm, but this did not stop him from flying.
After progressing from flying light aircraft to taking control of former military jets, he was appointed a Trustee of Aerobility in 2019 and won The Pooleys Aviator of the Year Sword in 2021. He now plays a significant role in shaping the charity’s strategic direction and expanding opportunities for its participants and pilots.
Aerobility’s new Chair, Neil Tucker, stated:
“I’m very proud to have landed here,”
“Aerobility took me from a dark corner to a place of laughter-silvered wings. It completely changed my life. It is now up to me to build on Shona’s success by growing the charity and re-writing the assumptions people with disabilities live by.”
Aerobility offers a unique sense of liberation from the restrictions of disability and removes any barriers to aviation, ensuring that flight is possible for individuals with varying needs.
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