Our Mission

The Mission of the Air League is to generate national understanding of the importance to the UK of aviation and aerospace, and to excite the interest of young people in these areas by helping them to become involved. 

Back in 1909, the founders of the Air League were concerned that Britain was falling behind other nations in the development of its aviation capability. The popular image of early flying in this country might be that of well heeled young adventurers seeking new thrills, but amidst the razzamatazz, serious minds were at work. They foresaw the threats, both military and commercial, to the country’s future wellbeing if aviation was not made central to government thinking. It was due in no small measure to their foresight and determination that when the First World War broke out five years later, Britain was taking aviation sufficiently seriously to be able to develop and produce aircraft that could hold their own in the rapidly evolving scramble for air superiority.

History teaches that few causes, even those of vital national importance, can afford to rest on their laurels and this has certainly been the case with our on-off love affair with aviation. The country cheered the exploits of ‘The Few’ during the Battle of Britain, but how many knew that they also had to thank The Air League for promoting the formation of the Air Cadet Defence Corps – later the Air Training Corps – which provided a precious source of pilots and engineering personnel?

However, we must always bear in mind that aviation is not just about conflict between nations and it is a matter of pride for The Air League that over the years our membership has included the great names of civil aviation. They, too, saw in The Air League a valuable vehicle for the promotion of aviation.

Future challenges
Today aviation is accepted as a fundamental part of our lives.  We rightly concern ourselves with the contribution that aviation in its various forms makes to the levels of carbon emissions, but still take for granted our flights to holiday destinations, the availability of our favourite food in the local supermarkets, the air ambulance and air/sea rescue services – and the RAF’s ability to intercept uninvited aircraft intruding into our airspace.

The result is that over 100 years on, aviation is still facing serious challenges and The Air League is still championing its cause. Of course, the methods that have to be employed today are different. In Edwardian Britain only a relatively few people could influence events. Now we live in a complex, multi media world where the truth can sometimes be subsumed in a torrent of comment and speculation. The Air League’s stance is to call for a reasoned debate based on hard facts.

One audience which has always been enormously important is our Parliamentarians. A significant characteristic that sets the Air League apart from our fellow associations, distinguished though they are, is that we are perceived to be truly independent and representative of the whole spectrum of aviation.

Fulfilling the mission
Our membership includes leading organisations from the commercial sector, but we are not a lobby for industry. We are proud to have a close and longstanding relationship with the flying arms of the country’s Armed Services, but we are not pleading a special case for them. Rather we are fulfilling the mission that was set out back in 1909: to further the cause of aviation in all its manifestations – which today includes air transport, military, general aviation, pleasure flying and – very importantly – the involvement of young people.

As a result, Members of both the House of Commons and Lords are attracted to our Associated Parliamentary Group, which currently has a membership approaching 200. Through this forum we are able to engage those responsible for the shaping the nation’s legislative and regulatory programmes in constructive dialogue.

The Air League is now conducting a vigorous campaign to help achieve a fair hearing for aviation across a range of issues. We are firmly convinced that The Air League is still a vital part of the aviation scene in this country.