We’d like to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about who we are and what we’re all about.
Beginnings
Our group was formed in July 2012, with the airport approving our constitution on 3rd September 2012. We held a press conference on 19th November that year. Back then we were the Friends of Durham Tees Valley Airport, but have since changed our name in line with the airport’s name change.
We are made up of members of the general public from all different backgrounds, and we are not just ‘plane spotters’.
A Unique Group
At many UK airports there are volunteer groups with varying purposes, but we are the only one officially recognised by the airport management and ownership, and the only one with “boots on the ground”.
What We Do
We meet once a month in the terminal building Sky Bar for a catch up on airport and group news. Sometimes we have a talk from the airport staff, or a company based on the site; sometimes we have a quiz or show a video related to the airport of aviation.
Our main activity is helping raise the profile of the airport. We have done this through attending trade shows and events, helping out with special flights and promoting all the airport has to offer.
We got involved with the Skylive Airshow, helping set up the site and also running our stall.
We assist passengers in the terminal with flights and ad-hoc charters, like as the annual Christian pilgrimage to Lourdes, Santa flights to Lapland, and other one-off charters.
We help out at airport events such as the 2014 Canadian Lancaster visit, the Around Britain Air Rally, and we also participate in an emergency response exercise every other year.
We’ve held events at the airport such as our after-dark aircraft photography nights, talks by expert speakers, and we’ve arranged day trips for members to Amsterdam, RAF and USAF air bases, and air shows to name just a few. We also try to periodically arrange visits to resident air operators such as Draken.
Why Not Join Us?
We are always looking to grow our membership of people who love Teesside International Airport and want to get involved in helping it thrive.
We are volunteers. We are not managed or employed by the airport’s management in any way, and remain neutral, vowing to work with whoever is in charge.
Membership costs £12 per year, which helps fund group activities, insurance, some social events and gives you access to our meetings and newsletters.
We hope you will consider joining us! Click here:
https://friendsoftia.co.uk/fodtva-membership/
Committee Members
Committee roles are put up for renewal once per year at the Annual General Meeting to which anyone can challenge for a role.
The Committee for 2025 is as follows:
Chairman: Brian Robinson
Vice Chairman: Stuart Reid
Treasurer: Dave Anderson
Secretary: Chris Smith
Information Officer: Matt Falcus
Events Officer (External): Matthew Ness
Events Officer (Internal): Nick Bassett
Recruiment Officer: Paul Tasker
Operations Support Office: Richard Bowater
Events Support Officer: Marc Shevill
Events Support Officer: Andrew Povey
Meetings
Monthly meetings usually take place on the third Wednesday everymonth at 7pm. These are normall held in the Sky Bar inside the airport terminal, and members can enjoy free parking to attend.
Often we have informal get-togethers, quizzes or talks at our meetings.
Events
Friends of Teesside International Airport plan to organise regular events and trips that may interest our members, see the Events page for more details.