Flying Scholarships for the Disabled
Flying Scholarships for the Disabled (FSD) is a UK-based charity dedicated to helping disabled people to learn to fly a light aircraft.
The stated purpose is to help them face and overcome challenges and enable them to find new confidence and self-esteem in rising above their own personal life difficulties and to view the future with greater self-assurance.
The charity was founded by the Royal International Air Tattoo in the memory of Douglas Bader, the disabled wartime fighter ace.
Over 300 disabled people have participated in the scholarship scheme, several are paraplegic, and others are disabled as a result, for example, of cerebral palsy, loss of limbs, rheumatoid arthritis, MS, ME, spina bifida and poliomyelitis.
The charity provides about 12 scholarships a year. Many of the Scholars get to fly Solo, and some go on to take full licences.
The Patron of the charity is His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.