Iron Maiden Star Gets Airline Boardroom Gig
11:05am Thursday September 16, 2010
Richard Williams
Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson has swapped the mosh pit for the boardroom after he became an ambassador for a charter airline.
Dickinson has been a captain on Astraeus Airlines planes for years
The heavy metal singer and qualified pilot has been named marketing director at Astraeus Airlines, where he has worked as a captain on Boeing 757s for years. Having previously presented a TV series on aviation and another show about spontaneous human combustion, for Sky One, he will produce a number of promotional videos for the firm.
The 52-year-old - known as the 'Air Raid Siren' - said in a statement: "This isn't about appointing ad agencies or anything like that. "The main aim is to deliver the Astraeus message and business proposition directly to what is a relatively tight and targeted audience of people and decision-makers in aviation." Dickinson, who flies his group's own chartered plane, called Ed Force One, will continue his piloting for the company alongside his new "ambassador role".
Mario Fulgoni, Astraeus Airlines president, said: "I have worked with Bruce for a number of years now, in various capacities, and he is a very accomplished business promoter as well as pilot. "I am delighted he has agreed to join my team. "One of Bruce's first responsibilities is to expand the series of videos we produce that explain and promote the services we offer to our clients."
Iron Maiden have clocked up 100 million sales of their 15 albums, which feature songs including Holy Smoke, Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter and Where Eagles Dare. Dickinson has run up more than 7,000 flying hours with Astraeus, which provides planes and staff for airlines including British Airways, Bmi and EasyJet.
