A little different.
Last week, I volunteered at the Young Aviators evening run by The Air League and the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. I remember the CEO, Danny and I were discussing how we can make the night more interactive than the years before. What made this event a little different was that we changed the format completely! Instead of the usual talks and presentations, we decided to make the evening much more interactive.
We started with a simple icebreaker. Everyone was given song lyrics and had to walk around the room finding the people whose lyrics matched their song. It sounds simple, but it worked surprisingly well. Within a few minutes the room went from slightly quiet and awkward to people laughing, chatting and introducing themselves. It broke down the barriers straight away.
Re-shaping aviation.
After that, we split into smaller groups for a workshop-style discussion. The idea was to hear honest feedback from young people interested in aviation — what attracts them to the industry, what barriers they see, and what they think could be improved. It was really interesting hearing different perspectives. Some talked about the financial challenges, others about awareness and access, and a few shared ideas about how aviation could better connect with younger audiences.
For me, this part of the evening was the most valuable. Too often events are about people talking to young people rather than listening to them. This flipped that around. It gave everyone the chance to contribute and feel like their opinions actually mattered.
Once the discussions wrapped up, the evening shifted into a more relaxed setting with canapés and the chance to speak with exhibitors from across aviation. That’s where some of the best conversations usually happen. People could ask questions, share their own journeys into aviation, and connect with others who have similar ambitions.
Personally, I really enjoyed the whole format. It felt more natural, more engaging, and it created far more conversation than a typical event might. Volunteering at events like this reminds me why I enjoy helping with the Air League so much. Seeing people connect, share ideas and discover opportunities in aviation is genuinely rewarding.
And sometimes all it takes is a simple icebreaker and an open conversation to get those connections started.