Mobility Info - UK
Disabled Flying Association
British Disabled Flying Association
The British Disabled Flying Association (www.bdfa.net) is a registered charity run by volunteers. Formed in 1993 to encourage flying for all, the B.D.F.A. provides free ‘experience of a lifetime’ trial flying lessons for terminally ill and disabled people. In addition, the charity offers regular subsidised flying days to other disability charities and at-cost instruction and flight training to B.D.F.A. members.
The charity has its head office at Lasham Airfield near Alton in Hampshire, where many of its events take place. It also has a Midlands flying centre at Tatenhill Airfield near Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Furthermore, the B.D.F.A. has partnerships with Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire and RAF Halton near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and it can put members in touch with other flying clubs throughout the country that have experience of disabled pilots and adapted aircraft. At its two centres, the association owns three aircraft – a Bulldog and two Piper PA28s.
Membership of the B.D.S.A. costs £96 per annum. A magazine, Aerobility, is issued on a regular basis and costs £2.50 or free to B.D.S.A. members.
Enabling those with disabilities to experience flying is usually a matter of choosing a suitable plane, dependent on the disability involved, and making simple modifications where necessary. For example, for paraplegics a Piper Cherokee or other planes without toe brakes would tend to be most suitable, as would several types of microlight. A JAY protector cushion could be used to ensure skin protection when getting in and out of the aircraft. Blackwood hand controls, fitted to the Piper Cherokee, allow the rudders to be controlled without the use of the legs.
Those with cerebral palsy would normally have no problems with the charity’s Piper Cherokee and Bulldog, using a handbrake instead of toe brakes. Likewise with leg amputees, whose main hindrance to flying would be the operation of toe brakes. The Piper Cherokee’s low wings (facilitating access to the cockpit) and operational hand brakes make it suitable for Polio sufferers, for whom the low-winged Robin DA400 and some microlights and gliders are possible alternatives. A footstrap could be used, if necessary, to help operate the rudder pedals.
The Civil Aviation Authority requires that deaf pilots be accompanied by a safety pilot who is responsible for radio communications. Any aircraft with side-by-side seating that allows the two occupants to communicate easily would obviously be most suitable for this purpose.
