We will discuss the various ways light aircraft pilots give back to the community and what you can do on your part to help!
The light aircraft community is more than just about thrills and adrenaline-fueled air adventures. It is also about taking care of the community and supporting important causes that can help strengthen the community for the better. Aviation is truly a gift that keeps on giving, from transporting people and cargo to even providing emergency services via air, if you have been wondering about all the benefits of light aircraft aviation then this guide is for you.
We will discuss the various ways light aircraft pilots give back to the community and what you can do on your part to help!
Aviation and its Impact on the Community
One of the biggest feats of mankind is to harness the power of flight. Humans have been daydreaming about flying for thousands of years. That’s right, even though aircraft technology is just a century and a half old, the idea of flying has been around since the dawn of civilisation. In fact, Greek philosophers and scientists were one of the first to document and contemplate the mechanics of flight. If you go back to myths and legends, you will realise that many of the Greek myths that involved flight, like that of Daedalus, were rooted in both imagination and reality.
It was only until all the pieces fell in place that we were able to finally crack the code and harness the power of flight! There are two ways to look at the question of how aviation has helped the community.
The first has to do with the indirect way that aviation has helped the community, and the second has to do with how light aircraft aviators are directly helping the community. Let’s explore each aspect of aviation in detail:
Indirect Ways Aviation Gives Back to the Community
As mentioned above, aviation was a result of not just one but a range of innovations that all had to come in place at the right time to make flight possible. The endeavour for the sustained flight was made possible with the help of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and of course, dreamers.
Here are some cool ways aviation has changed how we live in our community:
Advances in Meteorology
Although aviation isn’t solely behind the innovations in meteorology, it has been a catalyst for the advancement of weather forecasting and understanding the many aspects of the weather.
Since aviation is an industry that is closely linked to weather conditions, scientists had to come up with novel and breakthrough technology to precisely forecast the weather for any given day with a small margin of error.
In today’s world, meteorology plays an even greater role in aviation because of its potential to cause delays and even risks which is why we are constantly evolving how to predict the weather with extreme accuracy. Thanks to these innovations, the community, in general, has also been a benefactor of this technology. Now people can actively get live weather updates and even alerts about major storms that could otherwise cause casualties.
Global Positioning System
Perhaps the biggest breakthrough in aviation, apart from aircraft technology, is GPS. We live in a world that would almost cease to function without global positioning technology – and we have aviation to thank for this!
GPS technology is useful in not just navigation, but also widely used in a lot of other science-related applications, including weather forecasting. GPS technology is also at the centre of aviation because it allows groundcrew and pilots to know exactly where they are. Without this technology, both the community and the aviation industry would struggle and suffer.
Communication Equipment
Communication is key in keeping the community together and mobile phone and radio technology has enabled people to stay connected no matter where they are. Well, as you might have guessed, aviation has played a tremendous role in pushing this technology forward too.
Radio was the go-to communication tool for aircraft. This way, aircraft could always stay connected to the ground and communicate with the groundcrew, especially air traffic personnel who could guide pilots and help them land safely and efficiently.
The communication technology used for aviation has also trickled down to the public and you can see these services in action in everyday equipment like mobile phones, GPS tech, SOS messages, and more.
Aviation Attracts Businesses and People
Airports not only provide aircraft with a home, but they also indirectly increase the economic activity in the vicinity. Think about it, wherever you land, there are a range of businesses from food, clothing, transport, and much more.
The reason for this is simple, airports are responsible for many footfalls and people tend to spend a lot of money at airports, apart from ticket expenses! An increase in economic activity is always welcome and can greatly benefit the community in many positive ways!
Direct Ways that Aviation Gives Back to the Community
Just as aviation positively and indirectly impacts the community, there are also a lot of ways that the industry gives back to the community – and at the centre of it are light aircraft pilots.
Light aircraft are the default aircraft for people who have a pilot licence. These aircraft are usually flown for non-commercial purposes and are an excellent way to enjoy the thrills of aviation. Even commercial pilots would agree that flying light aircraft is more freeing because it isn’t bound by company laws and fixed routes. Light aircraft are also the default choice for instructors to teach people how to fly.
You can think of light aircraft as a multi-purpose flying machine that can be used in several ways. For example, light aircraft, particularly helicopters, are frequently used by emergency services and air ambulances due to their unique design and ability to take off vertically. Light aircraft can also be used for aerial surveys, photography, and even for transporting food and water to remote areas.
Light aircraft are also heavily featured in air shows, and the best thing about air shows is that they are usually also affiliated with charitable causes. Air shows are organised by aviators in the community, and they proudly support various causes that give back to the community. This way aviation can directly impact the community and make it stronger, which would in turn help with hosting bigger and better air shows in the future – it truly is a win-win!
Here are some of the ways light aircraft pilots give back to the community:
Emergency Services
As mentioned above, aviation has revolutionised emergency services and has made it possible to help people even in remote or difficult-to-reach areas. A good example of this is air ambulances that can airlift sick people out of places and get them to the nearest hospital via air.
As you can imagine, travelling via air is much more efficient and quicker than by road, and since most major hospitals have dedicated landing pads for helicopters, air ambulances can potentially save lives in situations where on-ground support is limited.
In urban areas, air ambulances can reach people in various weather conditions, so even if the roads are blocked, help can arrive via air! Emergency services are also an excellent choice for remote areas where pilots can precisely manoeuvre and recover people, even without landing (with the help of an airlift). Many light aircraft pilots, particularly the ones that are retired, opt to work for emergency services because it is truly one of the best ways to give back to the community.
Flying for Charity
Airshows have made it a habit to include multiple fundraisers and to associate themselves with a charitable cause to give back to the community. Light aircraft pilots even go as far as to provide their private aircraft for emergency services.
Pilots can also take part in competitions where the winnings of the event would be donated to the winning pilot’s charity of choice. These are excellent ways to help the community and the best part is that they are also a major source of entertainment for many people.
Light aircraft pilots can also hold tributes and fundraisers by arranging flybys or other air-related events – and since a lot of people show up at these air shows, the aviation community is able to raise considerable funds for charity.
Volunteering
Light aircraft pilots can choose to volunteer for charity as well. For example, pilots can choose to go on humanitarian missions to provide items like food, water, clothing, and other essentials to people in need in remote areas.
Volunteering is perhaps one of the best ways that light aircraft pilots give back to the community because it can directly affect people's lives in a very positive way. Light aircraft pilots can also volunteer for rescue missions to pick up people from areas affected by natural disasters.
Some pilots may even volunteer to teach people how to fly as well. Private pilots may teach at a reduced fee or have a more relaxed fee structure to support the community. This is an excellent way to give the youth of the community a new hobby because becoming a pilot can completely change someone’s life for the better!
Using Light Aircraft for Science
Light aircraft can also be used to gather data. For example, pilots can collect population data or monitor fauna from the air. Flex-wing aircraft are the go-to choice for such missions. These aircraft have an open cockpit where the pilot and the passenger are exposed to the environment. This allows for an unobstructed view of the surroundings and pilots can use these aircraft to retrofit scientific equipment like cameras, sensors, and other instruments to effectively gather data just by flying by an area. A great example of this would be the use of light aircraft for environmental conservation.
Light aircraft are used to monitor the flora and fauna of a particular area and over time This data can be used by scientists to come up with strategies to remedy environmental issues. Light aircraft can also be used to prevent poachers from harming animals too! Many light aircraft pilots volunteer for lookout services where they keenly scan the ground for illegal activities that would otherwise harm the environment.
Flight Schools and Charity
Flight schools are the backbone of the aviation community because they provide both a space for teaching people how to fly and a space for pilots to gather and even communicate with the community.
In many cases, flight schools and the community where they are located are closely interlinked, meaning that many flight schools make sure that their community is taken care of. They do this by offering exclusive discounts, scholarships, and even hosting mini airshows to bring in and inspire the young generation. Flight schools aim to provide the youth of the community with a direction in life so that they can enrol in a flight programme and make the most of their free time.
Comprehensive flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, offer a wide variety of services for the community. Not only do they provide financial aid for flight programmes, but they also host events that bring people from all over the country. As mentioned above, footfall is correlated to economic activity, so the more people visit an air show, the more they are likely to spend on businesses in the community.
Finally, flight schools can also help raise awareness for various causes and hold charitable events that can help raise funds directly for the community. For example, an airshow may raise funds for the underprivileged in the community by hosting events and donating part of the revenues from the tickets back to the community.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, fee structure, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Katt Yukawa on Unsplash
