Aerobility Explores Accessible Space Flight for Disabled Aviators
The UK charity is advancing inclusive aviation and exploring how people with disabilities can one day join space missions through innovation and advocacy
Aerobility’s pioneering work in transforming aviation accessibility—including new projects that explore how people with disabilities can one day participate in future space flight missions—is redefining opportunities for people with disabilities across the United Kingdom and beyond. Its mission is to make the magic of flight available to everyone—proving that ability, not disability, should define human potential.
At the heart of this mission is Chief Executive Mike Miller-Smith, who began flying as a teenager and later became a commercial pilot and instructor. Diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, a condition that affects muscle strength and mobility, he refused to give up his passion for aviation.
“Supporting young people into aviation, whatever their pathway, is absolutely key,” he said. “It’s that intervention—giving knowledge and confidence to anybody who wants to fly, take part in a ground-based activity, or work in the sector—that defines what Aerobility does.”
Aerobility now supports around 600 individuals with disabilities each year, combining adapted flight training, assistive technology, and education to turn perceived limitations into opportunities.
Among its ambassadors is Geoff Spink, a former BBC journalist born with disabilities caused by thalidomide, leaving him with shortened upper limbs and limited vision in one eye. After years of reporting on disability, Spink joined Aerobility, discovered flight, and found a new purpose.
“Even with my limited vision, I found that I could do it,” he recalled. “Aerobility is all about seeing the ability and not the disability in people.”
Spink completed a five-hour flying scholarship and continues to train toward his theoretical qualifications. “I call myself a pilot without a license. The key is that they asked what I could do, not what I couldn’t.”
Miller-Smith emphasized that the skills and resilience developed through disability—especially problem-solving and adaptability—are assets the broader aviation sector should value.
“Being disabled teaches you certain things,” he explained. “Every day we come across challenges that need solutions, and that becomes hardwired into our DNA. Those same skills are vital in the future workforce.”
Innovation and Accessibility
These insights were shared during the Royal Aeronautical Society’s President’s Conference: People in Aerospace, held in London on October 7, 2025. The discussion centered on innovation, accessibility, and workforce inclusion in the aviation sector.
Miller-Smith noted that while his medical condition classifies him as disabled, it is often the environment that imposes limitations.
“One of the reasons I’m unable to join you in the room today is that an old building in London isn’t accessible for a wheelchair like mine,” he said. “Technology allows me to join through the magic of Zoom—something that wasn’t possible 20 years ago.”
Aerobility is partnering with major technology firms to develop solutions such as haptic jackets that provide tactile flight cues or eye-gaze systems for controlling autopilot instruments. “These are some of the ways technology can make aviation accessible. Not just for leisure, but in the workplace as well.”
Spink added that voice-read systems and adaptive controls can enhance accessibility for pilots with sensory impairments.
“There’s so much potential for AI and machine learning,” he said. “The single control stick Aerobility developed for disabled pilots is now influencing next-generation eVTOL aircraft design.”
Inclusion and Sustainability
Beyond personal empowerment, Aerobility contributes to broader industry priorities, including sustainability and workforce diversity.
“We’re about to start using an electric aircraft powered by renewable energy,” said Miller-Smith. “Our aircraft already run on unleaded fuel, and one can even use synthetic and ethanol-based fuel.”
The charity’s Equal Skies Charter promotes collaboration between aerospace companies and the disabled community.
“We reflect the society around us,” he said. “Disabled people have skills that are highly attractive to the aviation sector.”
Spink stressed that true inclusion requires visibility and participation. “Nearly one in four people lives with a disability. If you don’t have disabled people in your workforce, you can’t expect your services to be inclusive.”
Education and Opportunity
Aerobility’s mission extends well beyond flying lessons. The organization offers educational programs designed to inspire young people with disabilities to pursue careers in the aviation industry.
The Aviation Education Programme (AEP) is a nine-month course for students aged 12 to 18 with mild to moderate learning or physical disabilities. Through 16 sessions covering air traffic control, engineering, meteorology, and navigation, participants gain practical insight into how aviation operates. The program combines classroom learning with simulator training and site visits, including to Farnborough Airport.
“It’s about building confidence, friendships, and knowledge,” the charity notes.
The Junior Aspiring Pilots Programme is a four-day experience designed for younger participants, introducing them to the principles of flight, communication, and navigation. Each student takes the controls of an aircraft under the supervision of an instructor, applying theory to practice. The program also helps develop essential life skills such as teamwork and organization.
Both initiatives are free to students and form a core part of Aerobility’s outreach to the next generation of aviators.
Expanding Horizons
Aerobility’s reach now extends beyond its Hampshire base, with operations at Tatenhill, Lydd, and Newquay.
The charity aims to grow its presence across the UK while strengthening ties with similar organizations worldwide. Its international influence is apparent: one trainee, British para-athlete John McFall, learned to fly with Aerobility before becoming the European Space Agency’s first disabled astronaut candidate. His journey reflects how the charity’s work can lift ambition from the cockpit to the cosmos.
Another example of Aerobility’s long-term impact is a wounded veteran who trained a decade ago and is now a senior manager at an air cargo company. His career path, sparked by his early experience with the charity, highlights the program’s ability to change lives and build future leaders in the aviation industry.
Through its combination of education, advocacy, and innovation, Aerobility continues to demonstrate that accessibility in flight benefits not only individuals but society at large. The charity’s long-term vision includes establishing regional centers across the UK, ensuring that inclusivity in aviation becomes a national standard rather than a niche pursuit. With each pilot it trains, Aerobility redefines what is possible in the skies and, one day, perhaps even in space.