King honours pilot championing net zero flights

Rachel Gardner-Poole said starting her career felt "impossible" at first

A pilot working to achieve net zero in the aviation sector has been appointed an OBE in King Charles III's birthday honours.

Rachel Gardner-Poole, from Pewsey, Wiltshire, leads organisations working to achieve net zero, as well as charities delivering humanitarian aid overseas.

She said she had a "really good conversation" with the King over their shared passions for net zero and his involvement with several organisations she works for, including one that seeks to remove debris from outer space.

Ms Gardner-Poole said: "I'm working with colleagues to develop a new sustainable and inclusive flying school that brings in my commercial pilots license."

Ms Gardner-Poole said she wanted to work in aviation since she was six years old when she became of aware of the humanitarian charity, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).

The charity uses flies light aircraft to deliver aid to remote destinations where they are urgently needed.

Ms Gardner-Poole said: "It really is a lifeline for millions of people around the world flying out medical supplies, doctors and food where there is not infrastructure to drive cars or walk."

Ms Gardner-Poole said she did not have an easy path to starting her career.

"I told my parents that I wanted to fly for this charity and it seemed impossible," she said.

"I'm from a low socio-economic background so didn't even having driving lessons or a car let alone flying, so it seemed impossible," she added.

But after graduating with a degree in mathematics, she was able to begin her career in the aviation world when she gained her commercial pilot's license.

Her career spanned technology, regulation, innovation and sustainability and now she is on MAF's board.

She has also set up a new charity called Aviation For Good that aims to harness more income from the aviation industry to help "with humanitarian flying".

"There are so many people who rely on it to live," she said.