£10,000 Raised to Support Veteran Pilot Training

AirTanker and Wings for Warriors Raise £10,000 for Veteran pilot training programme

AirTanker and veterans’ charity Wings for Warriors today announced that donations from passengers and crew on AirTanker flights to the Falkland Islands have raised £10,000 in the first year of their partnership, supporting training for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women to become commercial airline pilots.

AirTanker operates the ‘South Atlantic Airbridge’ on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), supporting the transport of UK Armed Forces personnel stationed in the Falkland Islands. The route covers nearly 8,000 miles each way, generally seeing multiple flights per month. Onboard collections and donations have shown strong support from both passengers and personnel, helping to support the life-changing work of Wings for Warriors.

Paul Kimberley, Chief Operations Officer at AirTanker, said:

“We’re incredibly proud of what our partnership with Wings for Warriors has achieved in just one year. Every flight to the Falklands provides a vital link for our Armed Forces, and to see our passengers and crews contributing to such a meaningful cause, one that helps veterans rebuild their futures through aviation, is truly inspiring.” 

Mark Radcliffe, Founder of Wings for Warriors, said: 

“This £10,000 represents far more than donations; it’s hope and opportunity for our veterans. Thanks to AirTanker and the generosity of everyone onboard, more servicemen and women can begin their journey to becoming fully qualified pilots through our intensive ATO programme, a smarter, faster, and more affordable route back into aviation careers.”

Wings for Warriors trains and supports injured and recovering military personnel to achieve civil aviation licences at up to 50% lower cost than conventional flight training routes, helping veterans transition into meaningful civilian careers as commercial pilots.