FOUR-YEAR-OLD’S RARE EYE CONDITION £73k FOR CAITLIN HEALTH FIGHT Parents’fundraiser smashes target
Bosses at Perth Airport are looking into the possibility of introducing passenger flights.
Craig McDonald, director of ACS Aviation, the company that runs the airport in Scone, said it would be “great” if airlines such as Easyjet or Ryanair could be attracted to the airport.
He made his comments during an interview on BBC Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme yesterday, where he discussed the long-term ambitions of the airport.
He said: “It would be great if we could go down that road.
“At the moment the airport doesn’t have what we need as far as approach procedures are concerned, but we are looking into that.”
And when asked about big name airlines using the airport, he said: “That would be great.” He added: “Perth Airport does have good transport links.
“It’s three miles northeast of Perth city centre, so it’s well located in Scotland and central to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen so Caitlin Wilkie was diagnosed with BBS in 2017 A Perthshire girl who faces the prospect of going blind has inspired her family to raise over £70,000 in just a year to fight a rare genetic condition. Little Caitlin Wilkie (4) was diagnosed with Bardet Biedl Syndrome (BBS) nearly two years ago. The condition, which does not have a cure, causes blindness and could even lead to kidney failure in some cases.
There are only five known cases in Scotland.
Caitlin’s dad Liam, who works in Perth for construction company Kilmac, and wife Ashley dedicated 2018 to fundraising for the charity BBSUK and the important ongoing research into eyesight conditions at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
After just over a year of selfless fundraising, the pair have raised a staggering £73,000 – after smashing an original target of £5000.
Liam, who stays in Blairgowrie, said: “Caitlin really is a star, not just in our eyes but for everyone who has met her.
“She has touched so many hearts over this past year and everyone who has met her has really fallen in love with her.”
I reckon there is a market for that.”
His comments come as ACS Aviation announced it was on course to report a 46 per cent increase in turnover for 2018/19.
The company is forecasting a turnover for the year ending March 31 to increase from £1.3 million to £1.9m.
This comes as the MoD has approved its flight school at the airport for military pilot training.
The school is almost fully booked for the next nine Perth Airport months, and more than 200 students are expected to graduate from the airport in the next three years.
Mr McDonald added: “Since we took over in 2016 we’ve invested a significant amount of money into the business, over £1m.
“We’ve recruited a number of flying instructors and now we’ve got record numbers coming through the school.”
The PA contacted Perth Airport for comment yesterday afternoon but bosses were unable to respond before we went to print.