Craig Potter of Menzies Aviation, Airside Leading Hand at Glasgow Airport, was joint-winner of the Superheroes Award at the inaugural Aviation Heroes awards ceremony, held at Manchester’s iconic Concorde Conference Centre on April 24th.
The Superheroes Award is given for saving lives.
The Aviation Heroes awards celebrate the vital contribution to the UK’s aviation industry made by ground handling staff working at airports across the country.
Ground services are essential to the management of both passenger and cargo air services. They cover a range of activities including baggage handling, aircraft refuelling, ramp handling, aircraft maintenance, passenger services and much more.
Craig reacted quickly when he noticed a flight crew member choking on their lunch. He performed the Heimlich manoeuvre, which released the food that was blocking the crew member’s air passage. Ultimately, Craig’s quick thinking potentially saved a life that day, and importantly it demonstrated his ability to react quickly under pressure, using skills learned within First Aid training.
At the awards ceremony, the Aviation Minister, Mike Kane MP, said in his keynote address that the winners represented the very best in the industry, and praised ground service providers for the critical role they play in UK aviation.
Aviation Services UK (ASUK), the trade body representing ground services firms, and organisers of the event, presented awards in eight categories, including safety, security, and teamwork.
ASUK’s mission is to enable a thriving, safe, secure and sustainable UK aviation sector. Its members now handle over 80% of all UK flights.
In 2024, ASUK members handled more than one million flights arriving at, and departing from, UK airports. They support more than 1.5 million jobs and contribute around £5.47 billion annually to the economy.
David Leighton FRSA, Chief Executive at ASUK, commented; “It’s all too easy to overlook the extraordinary work that takes place on the ground to keep the UK flying.
“These awards change that.
“At long last, we can recognise and celebrate the achievements of people serving on the frontline of our industry, doing amazing work day in, day out at the UK’s airports.
“These achievements include saving the lives of passengers and colleagues.”
Leighton continued, “It’s wonderful to see the industry come together to support the awards, and to support our charity partner, Lifelites.
“Since its inception in 2023, ASUK has come a long way. We have worked across a range of issues, with colleagues in the industry and in government, to achieve shared objectives. The awards undoubtedly marks another important milestone for our association as the voice for the UK’s aviation ground services.”
Mike Kane added; “Ground services are a vitally important part of UK aviation and the Aviation Heroes Awards has shone a light on the people who have gone above and beyond to serve the public.
“As we look to maintain and build upon our world class aviation sector for the whole country, we want to work with key partners like ASUK to recognise and build more valuable jobs across the sector.
“Congratulations and thank you to all the award winners – it was brilliant to celebrate their achievements, especially at such an iconic venue in my home city of Manchester.”
