Two British Charities are coming to terms with the news that British Airways and Virgin Atlantic are opposing their suggestion that airline passengers who were victims of a price fixing conspiracy should be able to choose to donate their refunds to Charity. Similarly, suggestions that unclaimed refunds should be donated to these good causes have been rejected, meaning that BA and Virgin may still profit from illegal surcharging.

Both airlines have agreed to refund up to £73.5 million to UK passengers who bought tickets between August 2004 and March 2006 when an illegal fuel surcharge was being levied. However, whereas refunds unclaimed by US passengers will be assigned to an American good cause “Miracle Flights for Kids,” no such legal remedy is being offered on this side of the Atlantic.

Speaking on behalf of the British Disabled Flying Association, one of the charities involved, Chairman Mike Miller-Smith said:

“We are deeply disappointed that the airlines have reacted in the way they have. This was a perfect opportunity for them to demonstrate goodwill on their part. The logic seems flawed, flagship British companies giving money to charity in the US, yet refusing to do the same in the UK.”

David Philpott, Chairman of the Association of Air Ambulance Charities, the other not-for-profit organisation involved said:

“The airlines have already set this money aside to make restitution, so we find it somewhat unfortunate that they should oppose this humanitarian intervention. In the case of British Airways, one has to ask who is advising them, since a good news story would do them no harm right now.”

Both Mr Miller-Smith and Mr Philpott will now attend the Northern California District Court on 25th April, where they will ask the judge to intervene in their favour.

***ends***

Notes to Editors:

The British Disabled Flying Association (BDFA) was founded in 1993 to provide education, recreation and leisure time activities for disabled persons by providing opportunities with the object of improving the conditions of life. Last year the BDFA gave over 200 disabled or terminally ill adults and children their first experience at the controls of a light aircraft, typically improving self esteem and feelings of achievement with associated therapeutic benefit.

www.bdfa.net

Contact: Mike Miller-Smith 01256 346424


The Association of Air Ambulance Charities (AAAC), an umbrella not for profit organisation with 13 member charities, exists to support the work of the UK’s independent air ambulance charities. The charities collectively undertake 19,000 missions in a year and serve 177 Accident and Emergency Departments. The combined budgets of the AAAC charities is approximately £ 19.4 million.

www.airambulancecharities.co.uk

Contact: David Philpott 01622 833833

I'm pleased to announce that we now have a ramp with handrail situated at the rear door of the East Staffordshire Flying Club clubhouse (where the cafe is located).  At the moment I don't have a key to open the door from the outside, so this has to be opened from the inside, but we're getting there!
 
We also have a new instructor, Jason, who will instruct for the BDFA alongside Mark and Charlie.  Over the next couple of weeks another instructor, John, should also be able to start helping us out.  Both Jason and John are well known instructors at Tatenhill.  So now all we need is some decent weather!  And once I have some dates from the instructors I'll be in touch.
 
Louise Scotter
Flying Coordinator (Tatenhill)

Dear BDFA Member,

The BDFA Executive Committee is now able to share with you a project which we have been working on which has the potential to generate additional funding for the BDFA, to raise the public profile of our activities and also to play our part in changing the face of funding for other charities within the UK.

You may have seen the recent press coverage of the successful settlement against British Airways and Virgin Atlantic regarding fuel surcharge price-fixing.  Virgin and BA have been fined a significant amount, which is to be refunded to passengers that travelled on long haul flights between 2004 and 2006.  In the US the settlement requires that Virgin and BA give any unclaimed funds to charity, in this case it is going to Mercy Flights.

In the UK this is not the case and BA and Virgin will be refunded any unclaimed funds at the end of the claim period.We believe this is unfair and wish to set the precedent that UK charity close to the facts of the case should be able
to receive any unclaimed funds from the UK passenger fund.  The BDFA has teamed up with the Association of Air Ambulance Charities (AAAC) and jointly we are challenging the settlement agreement.

We are obviously delighted to have been given the opportunity to present our case to the court in San Francisco and potentially play a part in making legal history. We have sought guidance on whether we could do something to bring about a positive change across the charitable sector in the UK and are now working closely with a US lawyer who will represent us at a hearing on the 25th April to ask the judge to allow UK claimants to donate their refunds to UK charity.

While this could be of great financial benefit to the BDFA, in the long term it will have even greater benefits for other charities in the UK and we are pleased to be able to play a part in this.

We feel that if the judge finds in our favour then this could provide an opportunity in future settlements of this kind for UK companies to demonstrate their social responsibility by donating surplus funds to UK charities rather than taking the money back.

Please recommend to your friends, families and work colleagues that flew with Virgin and or BA between 11th August 2004 and 23rd March 2006 that they should register their details on www.airpassengerrefund.co.uk in advance of the settlement being allocated at the end of year. Our endeavours are reported in todays Financial Times, available on the FT website or from this link.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards,

Mike Miller-Smith

BDFA Chairman

Mike@BDFA.net

BDFA AGM AND DINNER

Time is running out so please make your bookings now.

 BDFA Annual General Meeting and Dinner (with after-dinner speaker) Dr Robert Pleming (Saturday 19th) and flying day (Sunday 20th)

Find out the progress made by the BDFA Executive Committee and plans for the future. See and fly the BDFA aircraft, including the Cherokee which will be leaving us during May for replacement with a PA 28 Warrior.

Hear from Dr Robert Pleming talk all about the trials and tribulations of restoring the Vulcan XH588 to the air, and finding more money to complete the air tests yet again.
More about the Vulcan to the Sky project here and here.
 

If you would like to fly contact Ben Bennett ian.bennett@tesco.net or by phone on 01202 849391 who will make the appropriate arrangements. If you would like to come to the Dinner email normanandjenny@tench.me.uk or call Norman Tench on 01494 565406 with your dinner choices.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Norman Tench
BDFA Secretary

 In June 2007, Chris Leigh was helping man the BDFA stand and entrance at the Aero Expo in High Wycombe, when he entered a competition run by Shell Oil, which he was lucky enough to win. He recently went to CApe Town to claim his prize, a flight in a Lightning, and his experience was reported in Shell's in-house magazine:-

The_Blue_Issue_1_2008

NEW!! Now out in paperback "Wings Around the World" is the story of a solo record breaking round the world flight over the North Pole and Antarctica in a single engine aircraft in aid of "Flying Scholarships for the Disabled". The author, Polly Vacher has been a member of BDFA since 1997 and a long time champion of aviation for the disabled. To purchase your copy go to www.worldwings.org

Miles Hilton-Barber continues to set records. Miles, who has been blind for about 20 years, on Sunday flew with a sighted co-pilot at speeds up to 1,100 mph over Cape Town, South Africa. The English Electric Lightning jet climbed to 50,000 feet in under two minutes, according to the BBC. The record-setting event raised £50,000 for the charity Seeing is Believing, which helps blind children in developing countries. "There are 37 million blind people in the world today, and 28 million could see again tomorrow if the money was available," Hilton-Barber said. He previously flew an ultralight from London to Sydney, and has also tried wingwalking and mountain climbing.

"The rush was incredible. It was just wonderful," Hilton-Barber told the BBC. "Of course, I couldn't see anything but my co-pilot told me that when we were flying upside down at 50,000 feet, you could see the curve of the earth."
More .....

Mobilise is a national charity specialising in the mobility needs of all disabled people. Their April 2008 magazine carried an interesting feature about the BDFA, and featured our Bulldog on the front cover. To find out more about Mobilise click here

This summer the BDFA is planning a truly impressive event – towing a DHL Boeing 757 on the runway at Lasham - with our wheelchairs. Oh yes, not a misprint!

Go to http://aerobilitydhl757.net/ to find out more

NEW Warrior now available!
 
PA28 - 161 G-BRFM has been added to our fleet at Lasham. Hand rudder control fitted. Snazzy all white paintwork makes her hard to find in the snow - thank goodness Spring is just around the corner! Ben is waiting to take your bookings...

As well as being an inspiring disabled aviator, Stephen is a great motivational speaker. Click here to watch his latest video.

Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou last teamed up with the Leonard Cheshire charity to launch the disabled entrepreneur of the year award.

The scheme is also being promoted by Gareth Almond, Britain's only fully qualified amputee driving instructor and disabled motor sport champion, whose Bulldog Spirit driving school in Lancashire specialises in teaching disabled motorists. He was forced to retire from the police after an accident led to the loss of his right arm.

Another successful entrepreneur supporting the award is Maria Zedda, who is profoundly deaf and runs a disability equality training and consultancy firm, Wideaware.

Stelios presented the first winner with a £50,000 cheque at a ceremony in November. He says: 'I am very passionate about encouraging an enterprising spirit throughout British culture. Helping remove the barriers disabled people face to being in business is an important part of this. That is why I am keen to establish this new award, which will give disabled people an opportunity to show the world what they are able to do rather than have them negatively judged by their disability.'

Amar Latif of Traveleyes, a tour operator for the visually impaired,received The Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year Award in November last year.

Latif established the business in 2005 with the aim of helping blind people experience world travel. Sighted travellers join the visually impaired on trips to destinations including Cuba, Canada, Italy and Spain, acting as their 'eyes' by describing their surroundings.


Latif, a Scotsman now based in Leeds, has only five percent of his sight remaining. He said: “It's a great honour to have won this fantastic award and to have had Traveleyes recognised in this way.

“The £50,000 will be used to expand Traveleyes into a fully international service. This will enable us to serve our blind and sighted travellers around the world.

"I set up Traveleyes as from an early age I always suspected there was a stunningly beautiful world waiting to be explored. Traveleyes holidays offer greater social, sensory and cultural variety and enhanced personal fulfilment. For the visually impaired traveller, Traveleyes provides a new sense of independence. For the sighted traveller it's a holiday that provides an enhanced sense of purpose.”

Activites offered by Traveleyes include sky diving, hiking, kayaking, and cookery courses. Latif is working on a 'walking with lions' trip for 2008. Click below to see Stelios talking about disability and entrepreneurship.

stelios_on_disability