This week, Scottish regional airline Loganair announced that it is to star in a new ten-part BBC documentary series.
The series launches on 15 August and will offer viewers an exclusive fly-on-the-wall insight into the airline and the young staff members at the helm.
A starring role
Following the success of ITV’s documentary series on London Heathrow Airport, the largest airport in the UK, the BBC is ready to capitalise on that by providing its own offering.
The new ten-part series, entitled ‘Sky High Club’ will give viewers a modern insight into the UK’s largest regional airline from the perspective of their youngest staff.
Loganair allowed the Glasgow-based production company Mentorn Scotland all-areas access over several months. Filming took place across the UK – from the Shetland Islands to London Heathrow – and followed 11 of the airline’s team as they balanced personal lives with the busiest summer in the air travel experience they’d ever faced.
The series takes a different approach than ITV’s Heathrow series and the classics such as Airline. Choosing to follow Loganair’s young Captains, engineers, etc as they navigate work and their personal lives adds an interesting dynamic that has the potential to make the show a unique and even emotional watch.
The series covers a series of dynamic and enticing topics.
Loganair pilot James Bushe features as his mission to change aviation regulations that inhibited individuals to qualify as pilots if they were HIV positive began to take flight.
A cabin crew member seeks advice on her dream to become a pilot, and the UK’s youngest captain struggles to juggle his long-distance relationship, his love of street performing and work.
And alongside the larger storylines, the series makes sure to capture the atmosphere and relationships at the Paisley-based airline. Look out for two best friends from Manchester and Mauritius as they adapt to their new roles as pilots in Aberdeen and the heartwarming moment as one pilot surprises his mum with a flight – the first one she’d ever been on.
And that’s only half of it!
Jonathan Hinkles, CEO of Loganair, commented on the launch of the series with pride:
“We are all incredibly proud of those who participated in Sky High Club and everyone in the wider team who made it possible. During a busy summer, when the entire aviation industry was faced with changing covid restrictions and huge challenges, it was a daunting prospect to invite a TV crew behind the scenes of our airline. For this to work in the best possible way, we gave the camera crews full access to behind-the-scenes life at Loganair, and I’m truly grateful to the stars of the show for volunteering to share their personal and truly inspiring stories as part of the journey.”
It is hoped that the series will encourage even more young individuals to join Loganair and the aviation industry as a whole, according to Hinkles:
“It is our hope that it provides fantastic encouragement and insight for those contemplating a career in aviation – whether in the air or on the ground – and that we are able to continue welcoming a diverse range of new recruits into the Loganair family.”
The making of the series benefited local independent production companies. It was almost certainly a modern production that wished to emulate today’s youth within the aviation industry.
Sky High Club will air on BBC Scotland at 22:30 next Monday. The series will launch on BBC Three for the rest of the UK on Thursday the same week back-to-back. If you prefer to binge-watch the series Netflix-style, it will all be available from next Monday via BBC iPlayer.
Will you be watching? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
There is an error in the Airline Robbie flies for… Its not Ryanair 😌