After 15 Years in the Saddle, Chief Eases into Retirement

Aerobility’s Chief Flying Instructor Mike Owen is leaving the game, stepping out of his role after "more than 15 years helping thousands of disabled people to experience piloting an aircraft."

The 65-year-old Owen has enjoyed his time with the charity, first starting in May 2008 as the team's first full-timer. Owen's flying career ended up on a different trajectory than desired - his first attempt at joining the RAF was rebuffed. Instead, they gave him the choice of navigator or engineer roles, but Owen decided to take charge of his own fate and work in other careers to further his private flight hobby. Owen worked for the Ministry of Defence and Phillips Medical Systems as an engineer and software tech. Looking back on his career, he waxed nostalgic:

“Aerobility had a Bulldog aircraft at that time - the same aircraft that I had learned to fly in with the University Air Squadron, so it felt like going back to my roots. It was also much nearer to my home in Farnham. I had an interview with CEO Mike Miller-Smith and Chair of Trustees Shona Bowman in the bar at Lasham and they offered me the role."

Owen said his time with Aerobility was superb. “The challenge of working with so many people on a really individual basis and helping them to learn to fly has been one of the greatest benefits of this job. In this role you find out so much about people, their strengths and their weaknesses and what really motivates them.”

Owen won't be out of the cockpit for good though - His retirement as Chief Flying Instructor won't prevent him from showing up as a part-timer, however often he feels up for it.

“Mike Owen has been at the centre of everything that we have achieved with Aerobility since he came on board in 2008," said Aerobility CEO Mike Miller-Smith. "He has supported and trained so many disabled people and shown them that there need not be any barriers to them taking to the skies themselves."

“We could not have taken Aerobility to where it is today without Mike and the work he has done to keep our aircraft operational and to keep disabled people flying. We are delighted that we will continue to see Mike around even after his official retirement.”

FMI: www.aerobility.com