PilotsTogether raising funds for UK pilots made redundant due to Covid-19 crisis

• Funds needed by charity to help members of community alleviate financial and mental pressures of redundancy
• Charity in drive to raise an ambitous £80,000 with aviation-themed raffle to fund activites through festive season
• Call for support to raise profile of the charity, its mission, and December 6^th fundraising event

LONDON, Nov 30, 2020 – PilotsTogether (www.pilotstogether.org), the UK registered charity (1191122) established in summer 2020 to help UK pilots being made redundant due to the Covid-19 crisis, is hosting a fundraising drive with the aim of raising an ambitious £80,000. With increasing numbers of impacted pilots registered with the charity needing financial support, this funding is critical.

Since officially launching in September 2020 over 100 former pilots have registered with the charity. Of these:

• 81% have outstanding training debts to pay
• 10% have flight training debts in excess of £100,000
• 21% have been made redundant in the past

In addition to providing financial and career support to impacted pilots, the charity is also working to dispel the myth that this is a wealthy community and immune to the impact of considerable training debts with no recovery in the job market in sight. Another objective is to ensure future generations continue to view the profession as an appealing one, especially those from underrepresented groups.

PilotsTogether is also helping impacted pilots find new employment. While it’s unlikely that many will find jobs as pilots until the industry starts to recover, they are finding bridging positions that will keep them going until they can return to the skies one day.

Adam, one of the pilots in the PilotsTogether community says: “At the start of 2020 I started my dream job flying you around the UK and Europe.

Following the Covid crisis I have been made redundant with significant training fees to somehow recover. PilotsTogether has offered me unmatched assistance as I transition from my flying job into another career.”

In November 2020, PilotsTogether also featured in a recent BBC One – South East feature on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on the aviation industry: BBC One - South East Today

The PilotsTogether raffle tickets are on sale now and the drawing (pilotstogether.org/raffle) takes place on Sunday December 6^th. The raffle is the first major fundraising drive by the charity and has seen a large number of significant donations which will appeal to the aviation community. Prizes include:

• Aircraft simulator experiences with senior airline pilots – in both the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747
• A range of aviation art and vintage paraphenalia
• Flights in vintage aircraft with pilots and a day trip to Europe
• Wine tasting with the Israeli wine ambassador to the UK
• Tours of the historic Croydon Airport and the London Heathrow control tower

Scottie Bateman, Chair of the Trustees says:

“As Christmas approaches, many of our pilots are getting even further away from their last pay cheque. With training debts and other financial pressures mounting, they need help, fast.

PilotsTogether is here to support redundant pilots and their families get through this dark chapter. In additional to financial support, we help them find new jobs, stay positive and remain connected to their community.

There’s a common misconception that pilots are wealthy and don’t need help. This couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re working with a group of people who are burdened with training debts taken on while qualifying for a profession with bleak prospects.

The mental and financial stress on our community makes the work of PilotsTogether all the more important which is why we’re raising funds through the raffle now – and need help in spreading the word.”

About PilotsTogether

PilotsTogether is a charity established by serving pilots and their supporters. Our goal is to ensure that pilots made redundant from UK airlines remain part of our community, avoid financial hardship, retain technical skills, and ultimately find new employment.

For more information, please contact:

Michael Oakes, Trustee – Communications - PilotsTogether

Email: mike@pilotstogether.org, Mob: +44 797 151 2424

Related links

www.pilotstogether.org