Bursary give islander chance to spread his wings

Sunday 02 July 2023

Jack Irving has been awarded this year's Helping Wings Bursary, which provides a local resident who may not otherwise get the chance to learn to fly with £2,000 worth of training.

The bursary will allow Jack to complete ten hours of flying training with Synergy Flight Training at the Aero Club.

This is the eighth year that Ports of Jersey have sponsored the bursary. 

Jack, who applied for the bursary in September 2022, said: “I felt both eager and hesitant about the opportunity, which was a way to try a new experience outside my comfort zone.

"I was excited, but wary, and I questioned whether I was the right candidate. But after a trial lesson I realised there was nothing quite like it.

"Since starting lessons I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and I can now understand why people pursue flying full time."

Pictured: "After a trial lesson I realised there was nothing quite like it..."

He added: “When finishing university, it is easy to feel lost, especially with the absence of a challenge.

"Flying with Synergy through Helping Wings has benefited me more than I imagined, as I get to grips with the specifics of flying and adopt a problem-solving mindset.

“My trainer, Martin, is proving to be a fantastic teacher and communicator. He has consistently pushed me, while also putting my nerves at ease.

"It’s reassuring to know one of us isn’t tense when 3,000 feet in the air." 

The Helping Wings bursary also welcomes students with disabilities onto their scheme.

Heather Armstrong, who is profoundly deaf, was 16 when she was the recipient of the 2022 bursary.

Of her experience, she said: “Helping Wings have given me an incredible opportunity that few people ever get, and it has shown me my potential, and the independence gained from flying has fostered a belief in myself that I can do anything that I want to in the future.”

Pictured top: Jack Iriving, the recipient of the 2023 Helping Wings bursary, with his trainer Martin.