The Friends of Durham Tees Valley Airport (FoDTVA) scheme was today unveiled to the press and public. Five FoDTVA members, including the Chairman Colin Granton, Vice-Chairman Stuart Reid, Fundraising Officer Claire Gratton, Events Social & PR Officer David Thompson and Information Officer Chris Smith joined Airport Chairman Robert Hough, Airfield Manager Shaun Woods & Commercial Director Andy Foulds who revealed the scheme to the press. Media in attendance included The Northern Echo, The Evening Gazette, BBC Tees and TFM Radio, an interview with Star Radio had been recorded a week prior.
FoDTVA also unveiled plans for the return – for the first time in over 20 years – of an air show to Durham Tees Valley Airport at the event. The Tees Valley Air Show will take place on Saturday 22nd June 2013 and we will soon launch a micro-website dedicated to the show, but in the meantime, see our Events page for more information.
FoDTVA Chairman Colin Granton had this to say:
“There are a number of regional airports which have local support groups and we have worked closely with the Airport Manager Shaun Woods in developing our plans.
“We believe that having additional ‘helping hands’ can make a contribution in many different ways—everything from litter picking and snow clearing to attending events and providing advice and information to the public.
“What we are very clear about is that we are not about undermining the workforce at the airport in any way. We aim to be extra help, not replacement help.
“Since we set up our website a couple of months ago we’ve been hugely encouraged by the response from people who have attended our initial meetings.
“One of first big initiatives is the Open Day/Fly-In which we are planning to hold on Saturday, June 22nd next year. It’s early days but we are confident that we can put together an entertaining event, including flying displays and aerobatics, discounted trial flights with the resident flying schools and involvement from organisations including the Great North Air Ambulance and the Police Air Unit. “The ‘Fly-In’ is a regular event across airfields in the UK and involves visiting aircraft, ranging from sports two-seaters to business jets. Of course we would like to progress to a full-blown Air Show but we will have to see how the plans develop over coming months.”
Airport Chairman Robert Hough added:
“Since I took up this role earlier in the year, following Peel Investments (DTVA becoming the majority shareholders, I’ve been hugely impressed by the pride which local people take in the airport and how much everyone across the community wants to help.
“FODTVA is a really grass roots expression of that support and we look forward to working closely with them in a shared ambition of making Durham Tees Valley the success we all believe it can be.”
Read the full press release here.
by Chris Smith
19/11/12