Brian Wheeler appointed Aerobility Chief Operating Officer

Aerobility has appointed Brian Wheeler as its Chief Operating Officer!

Brian, who has been a trustee of the charity since 2019, is currently part of the NATS deputy general manager team at its Swanwick air traffic control centre in Hampshire where he has responsibility for the safe running of its 24-hour operation. He is being seconded from NATS into the Chief Operating role at Aerobility, initially on a part-time basis, and will be mainly based at the charity’s headquarters at Blackbushe Airport on the Hampshire and Surrey border.

He takes up his position with Aerobility from April 24. Previously Brian was an air traffic controller with the RAF before joining NATS in March 2000 where he continued to control aircraft for a further 11 years before moving into managerial roles.

Aerobility Chief Executive Officer Mike Miller-Smith said: “I am really pleased that Brian is joining the management team at Aerobility. His many years’ experience in the aviation industry and lived experience with disability brings positive leadership and new ideas to our service delivery and operation.”

Brian said “Aerobility is a charity that has been close to my heart for some time and the opportunity to work with the team on a more permanent basis is fantastic on both a personal and professional level.

“It is an incredibly exciting time to be working with Aerobility as we develop and harness the opportunities that technology provides us to significantly widen access to aviation for more and more people living with a disability.

“I join at a time of growth for the charity and look forward to shaping the future to ensure we can continue to meet our primary objective of introducing people with a disability to the magic and wonder of flight.”

Brian will be standing down as a Trustee of Aerobility as a result of his appointment.