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Homepage - Diabetes World Flight - Douglas
Cairns
In 2003, I flew Diabetes World Flight (DWF),
the first round-the-world flight by a licenced pilot with Type
1 Diabetes. The journey covered 26,300 nautical miles through
22 countries over five months in a twin-engine aircraft, raising
US$26,000 for diabetes research.
Diabetes World Flight demonstrates that a licenced
pilot with Type 1 Diabetes can fly safely according to US flying
regulations. In time it is hoped that other countries will adopt
similar systems to allow pilots with diabetes to fly: Diabetes
need not limit the scope of people's dreams and ambitions.
After completing my book "Dare To Dream:
Flying Solo With Diabetes" in 2005 about living and flying
with diabetes, I now give educational & motivational talks
to the diabetes industry in the USA and Europe. For a flavour
of some flying in 2007, have a look at the Youtube.com links
below.
Record Breaking
Flight in 2009 - www.diabetesflight48.com
In June I will be carrying out another
fund-raising flight, this time an attempt to break the existing
record to land in all 48 contiguous states of the USA. Please
log on to the above website to find out details.
Youtube Links to flying in Colorado's Rocky
Mountains:
Youtube
Indian Peaks flight #1
Youtube
Indian Peaks flight #2
Youtube
Indian Peaks flight #3
Book
Now Available
Other Activities 2009
After five years of (truly tremendous!)
flying & diabetes
awareness-raising activities, in November 2007 I returned to
London and the fund management industry. Luckily, I continue
to fly regularly in the USA, using the same Diabetes World Flight
Baron B58 aircraft, and am currently planning a 3-day
US record-breaking flight in June 2009 to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes
research Foundation (JDRF). More news to follow on this...
Speaking engagements continue, including talks
to Diabetes UK (www.diabetes.org.uk)
and JDRF (www.jdrf.org.uk)
in 2008, while in 2009 I will be giving talks to the International
Diabetes Federation (www.idf.org)
World Diabetes Congress in Montreal in October, and to Children
With Diabetes' (www.childrenwithdiabetes.com)
first annual conference in the UK on the 15th & 16th August.
Exciting travel continues for both work
and pleasure - work visits included 19 countries (in Asia,
Europe, Middle East, South & North
Americas) in 2008, while holiday time is taken up with flying
visits (literally) to the USA.
Pilots With Diabetes (www.pilotswithdiabetes.com)
In
November 2007 the inaugural meeting was held for "Pilots
With Diabetes", a British-based group of former commercial & military
pilots, existing and prospective private pilots, all of whom
have Type 1 Diabetes. The aim of the group (and website) is to
gather information that can help enable people with type 1 diabetes
to fly professionally in the UK. The website also aims to act
as a point of information contact for pilots with diabetes trying
to do the same in different countries. Please log on to find
out more information.
Background to Diabetes
World Flight
In 1989, Douglas lost his military fast-jet flying career when
he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 25. At present
the US is the only country in the world that can issue a medical
licence to individuals with Type 1 Diabetes to exercise full
Private Pilot Licence privileges. DWF aims to show that it is
possible for such licenced pilots to fly safely according to
US FAA regulations. Overall,
Douglas wants to show that clinical conditions such as Diabetes
should not limit the scope of people's dreams.
Diabetes is a growing clinical
condition worldwide that has both short-term
and long-term health and lifestyle implications
for sufferers. Research projects are key to finding
ways to improve diabetes healthcare and ultimately
prevention and cure. Donations received by DWF
were awarded to the Diabetes UK Research Fund
(www.diabetes.org.uk)
and the Children With Diabetes Foundation (www.childrenwithdiabetes.com).
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