Happy Flyer is a SATA Group program dedicated to bringing more comfort and happiness to those who are afraid of flying.

Vera, the person in charge of this program, is devoted to helping many passengers who feel uncomfortable when planes take off.

Today we share, through her words, her most recent experience, this time, with a very special girl.

“Autism Spectrum Disorder is just a name and doesn’t define the sweet girl that Laura is. Laura is nine years old and loves airplanes, but she had a bad experience on board about two years ago. That day, everything changed for Laura. The turbulence and the screams of the lady sitting next to her made her afraid of flying, and the word “airplane” made her very anxious. Given the need to travel more frequently, Laura’s mother asked for help with the Happy Flyer program, and we made magic with Princess Laura.

We took Laura to visit our “Peaceful” airplane, with pink letters, just the way she likes it. “Gorgeous, gorgeous! Laura is brave!” were Laura’s words as she approached the airplane, as if inside her heart her passion for planes was fighting her fear of flying. When she got on the airplane, she just wanted to go home, but with the help of her father (who accompanied her on the visit) and very calmly, respecting Laura’s pace, we managed to get her inside and familiarize herself with the environment. “It’s just to take a photo,” we said, and she agreed. “Cockpit?! No! No!” Captain Amorim not only introduced her to his work environment, but even managed to receive a grateful hug from little Laura.

Laura also went to visit the Ponta Delgada Hangar to see that, in addition to Doc McStuffins, there is also “Dr. Airplanes,” and she got her fox (a stuffed toy that accompanied her on the visit) to make the propellers of a Dash400 rotate. At that moment, Laura, still with some reluctance, approached the airplane, touched it with her little hands, and sat in the captain’s seat in the cockpit to smile for another photo. Laura was very brave! It wasn’t victory day yet, but Laura will certainly be another successful Happy Flyer on board SATA’s airplanes. We believe she will once again feel very calm inside on board because Laura is really brave.”