Local aviation charity fly2help visits schools and colleges around Gloucestershire to showcase the range of exciting careers in the aviation industry through its Aim High programme.

Yesterday (January 31) the charity held an open day at Gloucestershire Airport to show local business and careers how it is inspiring the next generation with its innovative ideas.

Through a variety of physical and virtual events, fly2help is at the forefront of inspiring the next generation, ranging from visits to primary schools with its Travelling Airport through to careers programmes aimed at older students, focusing on sustainability and emerging technologies within the aviation sector.

In an exclusive chat with Punchline-Gloucester.com, Kim Lewington MBE, Aim High manager, said: "We go into the primary schools and we set up an air traffic control display. We teach the children the responsibilities of being an air traffic controller. They have fun and they have a go at aviation. They get excited about aviation from the age of 5.

"Once you can get them excited, you have these lightbulb moments, so when it comes to choosing GCSEs, they think 'aviation is for me, I want to be a pilot'.

"But it's not all about pilots and engineers. We want to show children everything there is to do with airport working. By the end of it, we've shown them you could be a baggage handler, be a caterer or fix runway lights. We show them every single thing you could possibly do."

The charity also has a mock aeroplane it takes into primary and special schools, with plenty of space for wheelchairs to fit comfortably inside.

Schools wishing to have a visit from Aim High should visit the website.