McElroy reaches for the skies

That will be just one of the aviation challenges facing Norbord Europe Ltd business consultant Dave McElroy and his fellow Canadian pilot Chris Elgar on a round the world flight to raise £330,000 for charities in Scotland and Canada.

Mr McElroy, former deputy managing director of Norbord Europe, and now phasing down from the business, has flown his own plane out of Perth during his years with the company and is chair of the Scottish Aero Club. But he acknowledges that the Fly Round the World in 80 Days fund-raiser will test his skills.

“The flight will be 44,000 statute miles as we’re circumnavigating in two legs, one from Perth, one from Toronto, near Chris and the plane’s Ontario base,” he said.

“That means three Atlantic crossings, as well as the Pacific flight.” The trip’s charities are Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) and Sick Kids Hospital in Canada, a leader in autism care and research.

Mr McElroy has personal involvement in both.

“Both my grandsons have Asperger Syndrome and the SCAA is based out of Perth and Scotland’s first charity air ambulance service,” he said.

To support the fund-raiser go to www.flyrtw80.com, where there are full details of the flight. Norbord, CTH Group, James Latham plc and TFS are among the sponsors to date. Mr McElroy and Mr Elgar take off on May 1 next year.