Aviodrome assisted by KLM employees this summer vacation

Lelystad, July 2, 2020 - Visitors to Aviodrome will be able to put all their questions to flight attendants, pilots and other flight professionals this summer. This is because about ten KLM staff members will be working at the aviation museum this summer as part of 'Blue Helps'.

When many KLM employees found themselves sitting at home in March as air traffic ground to a halt due to corona measures, they were eager to do something useful with their time. That's how "Blue Helps" was born. KLM volunteers help individuals run errands or walk the dog, as well as assist at the food bank and mental health institutions. Now that museums are open again, they are jumping in there, too.

Enthusiast

"Museums work a lot with volunteers. However, a large part of these people are 70 years or older, and they cannot be used right now because of corona. We hope to make up for this lack somewhat," says Luc Aughuet of 'Blue Helps'. They approached the Aviodrome themselves. "Which, given the subject matter, of course could not be missing. We also noticed that our employees were very enthusiastic about this."

Stewardess Esther Donkel will spend about two days a week this summer showing visitors around, supervising and answering questions. "I am able to fly fewer hours than usual and really like the fact that I can now dedicate myself in another way. When I heard they were looking for some extra help at the aviation museum I signed up right away. It's a great opportunity to get involved with my own profession and help people. Really right up my alley."

Invaluable

Serena van Kammen, general manager of Aviodrome, is very pleased with the efforts of the KLM employees. "We have a very loyal, regular group of volunteers here. They are invaluable to our museum. However, the vast majority of these people are over seventy years old and it has been agreed with the Museum Association that for their own protection we cannot yet use this group as long as the corona measures are in place. Obviously we miss that, so it's very nice that we now have flight professionals who can assist us and help visitors from their own experience. That's really an asset."