On Saturday, June 15, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson spoke to the Leicester Mercury about a charity helping disabled people take to the skies. Check out video footage below. Dickinson, a commercial airline pilot and established aviation entrepreneur, has also been vice-patron of the Flying Scholarships for Disabled People (FSDP) charity for the past three years.
Previously known as Flying Scholarships for the Disabled (FSD), Flying Scholarships for Disabled People is a charity that provides a once-in-a-lifetime challenge for disabled people to help them realise their abilities through the medium of learning to fly.
While not a direct objective of the scheme, most scholars do fly solo (or "ghosted" solo) by the end of their training program and some go on to achieve their private pilot's licence.
All students who can satisfy their chief flying instructor during a general handling flying test that they have reached an acceptable standard of competence, compatible with the nature of their disability, are awarded the FSDP "Wings", based on the logo of the Royal International Air Tattoo.
"It's not just about teaching people with disabilities to fly, it's much more than that," Dickinson said. "It's about creating friendships, and there's a whole community around it and support system that comes with people encouraging each other. It's something I'm very proud to be involved in."
