The newly opened Onboard International Airport terminal in Lyme Regis is now offering flights of the imagination along The Jurassic Coast and back through time to 250 million years ago.
Flights to Pangea leave every 30 minutes from The Jubilee Pavilion on The Marine Parade and after check in and tough security screening passengers board the flight simulator, a section of a Boeing 737 for their trip along the 95 miles of The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.Time turbulence throws the flight back in time to see where it all began, you can fly with pterosaurs, marvel at ancient marine species as we traverse the ancient oceans.
Onboard, a flight with Jurassic Coast Airlines has proved a great hit since its launch at Lyme Regis Fossil Festival in May and its six weeks in Weymouth alongside the Olympic Sailing events and as part of the Cultural Olympiad educational offer. Following massive public demand Onboard is back flying from 11am to 4pm daily from the sea front from October 28th 2012 to 22 January 2013.
There are seasonal speciality flights which included Onboard’s Halloween spooky special, Bonfire Night extravaganza and Santa Christmas flight. Feedback from passengers flying from Lyme Regis has been encouraging with 100% of those questioned saying the experience had been good or very good.
Volunteers are central to the success of Onboard aircrew and aircrew for the winter flying programme are needed. The Onboard flight experience has been thoroughly enjoyed by all volunteers that have taken part in the running and maintaining of this fantastic project and volunteers who have helped to date have said they would do again and enjoyed learning more about the Jurassic coast and being part of such an inspiring, fun and genuinely unique project.
Volunteers also gained invaluable skills such as building confidence and being proactive.
Belinda Bawden, who volunteered her services to the Onboard project commented, ‘I started with the project in Lyme at the Fossil Festival and was bowled over by its ingenuity, innovation and imaginative use of film, motion and interaction with the volunteers. I loved the way the flight took us along the Jurassic Coast, showing us how the rocks and fossils today enable us to understand what our past environments looked and sounded like.’ She also added, ‘I undertook the flight attendant role with huge trepidation as I have never acted but quickly realised that the ‘passengers’ enjoyed themselves so much that it was really fantastic to be part of their fun, so quickly gained confidence.’
Sixteen year old Cecilia also volunteered and she said, ‘I really grew as a person. It was inspiring to work with such a lovely team. I felt truly appreciated and it was a wonderful experience. I am now really enjoying the responsibility of recruiting and training new volunteers.’
If you are interested in developing a career in tourism or performing arts, are passionate about environmental issues or just want to help out and join in with the fun, contact Lisa Quick at Lyme Regis Development Trust at [email protected] or on 01297 445021.
