100 years, 100 hours
Pilot for a day
- Publish date 17/01/2011
- Source cdvi.com
- Author CDVI France
From 7th May to 2nd July 2011, CDVI main sponsor of the «100 years, 100 hours, Children's dreams» project, has enabled almost 350 underprivileged children to come and touch the clouds during a first flight.
A successful take-off for this organised event under the framework of The Centenary of the Versailles Flying Club* came into being thanks to the goodwill and investment of a whole team of professionals and volunteers.
The CDVI President, manufacturer of access control systems and locking devices, David Benhammou, pilot and member of the Versailles Flying Club, has actively and financially supported this action.
So, for 8 week-ends, 41 planes (Robin DR 400 and Mousquetaire) and 40 pilots were mobilised, totalling 142 hours of flight at the Saint Cyr airfield, the school in the West of Paris.
More than 700 first flights were offered, being the capacity of one and a half Airbus A380 in passengers!
On the logistical side, 64 volunteers from the Lion’s Club and 48 from the Versailles Flying Club as well as the CDVI voluntary collaborators took it in turns to organise and manage the welcoming of children, companions and parents.
650 meals and snacks were given as well as a multitude of surprise presents: first flight diplomas, souvenir photos with the pilots, caps and badges.
The invited associations -Secours Populaire, Apprentis d’Auteuil, Hôpitaux Necker, Robert Debré and Raymond Poincaré, Fondation Fernand Prévost, Association AJC 78, Foyer Grandchamp, Sourire 2 Femmes- are all unanimous in the success of this project of solidarity and generosity.
• Laura, a young tetraplegic, flew and her Father said that she «had felt such emotions and sensations that she will remember this day for a very very long time… »
• Nicole Desnos, responsible for Secours Populaire of Clichy «the exceptional lunch you gave out satisfied and delighted the children who are not used to such luxuries… »
• The channel of Secours Populaire from Yvelines «the initiative of first flights was taken all the way up to the National President of the French Secours Populaire, and very touched, he insisted on coming to thank all the organisers, in person, on Saturday 2nd July, the last day of the project. »
Through theses actions of patronage, CDVI impulses a new campaign and strategy of institutional communication scope.
*founded in 1911, the Versailles flying club is one of the oldest flying clubs in Paris and the surrounding area. It is located to the West of Paris on the Saint Cyr school grounds at the West end of the Château of Versailles.
Demonstration calendar of the centenary club: www.aeroclub-versailles.com
