Appeal for pilots to take part in 24-hour ‘flyathon’


A business is appealing for wannabe pilots to take part in a 24 hour ‘flyathon’ in aid of charity. The Flight Sim Centre, which is based by Newcastle Airport, is staging the event on October 24-25 to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). It is being held in their Boeing 737 simulator, where budding pilots with or without any experience, can donate to ‘fly’ for an hour or more. Owners Neil and Amanda McCarthy, from Seaton Burn, Tyne and Wear, opened the centre in July 2015. Amanda, an instructor at the centre, said: “Those taking part will get to really feel what it’s like to be the Captain of a passenger jetliner.

A business is appealing for wannabe pilots to take part in a 24 hour ‘flyathon’ in aid of charity.

The Flight Sim Centre, which is based by Newcastle Airport, is staging the event on October 24-25 to raise funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

It is being held in their Boeing 737 simulator, where budding pilots with or without any experience, can donate to ‘fly’ for an hour or more.

Owners Neil and Amanda McCarthy, from Seaton Burn, Tyne and Wear, opened the centre in July 2015.

Amanda, an instructor at the centre, said: “Those taking part will get to really feel what it’s like to be the Captain of a passenger jetliner. They can try a challenging approach at the famous Kai Tak Airport or fly a circuit at Newcastle Airport.

“We’re hoping 24 pilots will take off on an exhilarating experience while raising cash for a life-saving airborne charity.”

Participants are asked to donate a minimum of £50 to GNAAS.

Similar events around the world have proved popular and generated thousands of pounds for their respective charities.

Amanda said: “We wanted to support GNAAS because we are on their flight path so we always see them flying overhead. They are a local charity and you never know when you might need them.”

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “This is a unique fundraising challenge and we’d like to say a huge thank you to the team for helping us to continue saving lives. Please get involved.

The Flight Sim Centre will also be donating 20% of their Christmas Gift Voucher sales throughout November and December 2015 to the charity.

For more information and to book please call 07824510979 or email thesimcentre@gmail.com

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