A RECORD-breaking 75 aircraft have flown across the UK for a fly-in at Haverfordwest Airport raising funds for two lifesaving services, Wales Air Ambulance and Blood Bikes.

Mike May, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire thanked everyone at Haverfordwest Airport and said: “This was a fantastic way to bring the aviation community together and help raise funds for both the Blood Bikes, who do an incredible job, and Wales Air Ambulance.”

One of the Airport Directors Charlotte Rees, 28, said: “It’s been a very special year for us; we took over the airport lease from Pembrokeshire Council in April.

“We wanted to mark the occasion with an event at the airport, to raise awareness and funds for two causes which mean a lot to our family and community, and we were absolutely blown away by the turn out.

100 per cent of the landing fees went to the two vital life-saving services.

Connections to Haverfordwest Airport has been in the Rees family for three generations. Charlotte’s grandfather, grandmother and uncle started a flying school in 1976. In April this year, they secured the lease from Pembrokeshire County Council.

Charlotte said: “I really want to spread the word about what we do! I am amazed that even some people who live in our county don’t realise we are here.”

The airport is home to Fly Wales which provides air charter flights around the UK and Europe taking people on business trips and holidays.

She continued: “We also repatriate patients and transport them to other hospitals in the UK and Europe. We also work with the NHS with organ repatriation and move babies to specialist hospitals.”

Haverfordwest Airport is a fuel supplier to Wales Air Ambulance, which takes the emergency department to the patient, whenever and wherever they need critical care in Wales.

Haverfordwest Airport’s open day included a barbecue at Propellers Café and helped raise over £693 which was divided equally between Wales Air Ambulance and the Blood Bikes charity, which is based at the airport.

Charlotte said: “It’s in my nature to want to help people, whether through my role at Haverfordwest Airport as a pilot or by supporting charities that do.

“Nine years ago my uncle who was running the air charter with our Chief Pilot Gwyndaf, sadly suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away.

“My dad who runs the dairy farm which runs alongside the airport, took over and that’s when I decided to take a year out and start learning the ropes.”

Charlotte has a busy few months ahead, she is expecting her first child in January, which she says the whole family is ‘very excited about’.

She added: “It’s only been a few weeks since our open day, but we’ve already been talking about what we can do in aid of Wales Air Ambulance next year. We can host events here all year around. We’d love to be able to raise as much as we can to help save more lives.”