The APT CHARITY that helps disabled people learn to fly may be grounded by next month unless it can raise £20,000.

The Aviation for Paraplegics and Tetraplegics Trust (APT), based here at Old Sarum Airfield, has been running for 15 years and has helped hundreds of severely disabled people take to the air.

But its Lottery funding has dried up and further grants have not been forthcoming.

It costs about £15,000 a year to run the trust and a fundraising campaign is now underway to secure its future.

General manager Rob Lawes fears that unless the money can be raised the charity, which is the only one of its kind in Europe, could be forced to close in the next month.

“This would be devastating,” he said.

“The problem is that lots of Lottery money has been diverted to the Olympics and charities like ours are struggling.

We’ve been applying for grants but all I’ve got is a stack of rejection letters.

It can continue but only if money is forthcoming - £20,000 would keep us going for the foreseeable future.”

Last year 120 people came to fly in the charity’s two specially adapted aircraft. They included spinal unit patients from Salisbury District Hospital, as well as people with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. “They gain a sense of freedom they thought they had lost forever,” said Mr Lawes. “Many of them become quite isolated because of their disability but this gives them control and the chance to do something that most other people can’t. “They might not be able to drive a car or even dress themselves but they can learn to fly a plane.”

Graeme Linskey was paralysed in a motorcycle accident 20 years and has been flying with APT since 1995. “I don’t know what I’ll do if it shuts down,” he said. “It will be game over – we’ll never get it back again. It’s not like we can go somewhere else. This is the only flying school for the disabled. When I’m up there I’m equal to everyone else. It reminds me that my life isn’t over. I can’t believe this is happening.”

The charity offers one-off air experience flights and longer flying courses in which disabled people can work towards their private pilot’s licence with the help of specialist instructors. Some of the pilots learn to fly with only very limited movement and use head controls to fly the planes.

“We have people flying all over the country,” said Mr Lawes. “Flying becomes a huge part of their life and it would be tragic if they missed out on the chance to gain independence in the sky.”

The APT has launched a £20,000 fund raising campaign and needs to raise as much money as possible in the coming weeks to help cover the cost of fuel, hangers, instruction and administration before the spring when it planned to start flying again.

If you can help with a donation, sponsorship or by organising a fundraising event visit www.disabledflying.org.uk or call 01722 410744 - email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or send cheques to APT, Hangar 3, Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury SP4 6DZ.