Ever fancied a job working in aviation? Local lad Aaron Hughes, born and brought up in Downe, wasn’t sure. His dad owned a haulage firm and Aaron always loved engines, but he quickly decided he didn’t want to spend his days crawling under lorries. Andrew Parkes reports.

At this time in his life Aaron admits: “It could have gone one of two ways, I definitely could have ended up taking a wrong path.”

But, partly due to his own determination, and partly due to the faith shown in him by Will Curtis, then the boss at Goldair (now Biggin Hill Airport’s MD), he got the chance to follow his dream.

Now, if the airport gets its way, it will build a new training college that aims specifically to give local youngsters the chance to get a foot on the ladder in the aviation industry.

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At the age of 29 and happily married to a Hayes teacher, Aaron is now a licensed aircraft engineer and cannot think of anything he would rather be doing.

But he is quick to point out that it is only possible because of the opportunity he was given by Mr Curtis.

He says: “I have been incredibly lucky and I am working in a wonderful industry.

“But if we do not want to lose the quality in the industry then it’s vital we develop and keep more jobs in this country.

“If not, they will all go abroad.

“I am wholeheartedly behind the idea of creating a college here and I would happily give up my own time to help get it off the ground.

“I would like nothing better than for local Bromley kids to be given the same sort of chance I had.”

Click here to read more about the major plans announced by Biggin Hill Airport this week