Attention Volunteer Pilots

We need your stories!

As most of us know, the good deeds of private aviation are largely unknown and unseen by a majority of Americans.  The media and general public often perceive General Aviation (GA) as a "rich person's hobby," and given today's economy we hear this more and more. Seldom mentioned is the positive impact GA has on the local and national economies. When the media does focus on GA, it is often the aftermath of an accident.

The good news is that the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has authorized its long time public relations agency, Barton Gilanelli & Associates (BG), to tell the untold stories about the thousands of humanitarian missions flown by GA and the crucial role it plays in helping millions around the globe.

During the past several weeks BG has been building communications bridges with members of the Air Care Alliance (ACA). Through these relationships, BG is gathering information from ACA members about upcoming flights to determine media potential.

What can you do to help? Call or email Judith Eckles at BG 215-592-8601/Judith@bartgil.com) with your missions.  Call as far in advance of a mission as you can and provide Judith with as many facts as possible:

Who is the patient?
What is the patient's diagnosis?
Why does s/he require the services of an ACA member?
What are the dates of the flights?
From where to where?
What and where is the disaster?
What supplies/people/ etc. are you transporting?
What is one thing that makes this mission particularly urgent or interesting

The more information/ stories you provide to BG, the more opportunities we all have to get our stories told.

Dozens and dozens of groups serve our communities and those in need, including international, national, regional, and statewide groups - and even small local groups with just a few pilots serving their immediate area. 

The Air Care Alliance lists and makes referrals to all the groups we can find. If your volunteer pilot organization is not on the Air Care Alliance Listings Page at

www.aircareall.org/listings.htm

please send us your information so we can include you!

The annual Above and Beyond Ceremony to present the National Public Benefit Flying Awards by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) was held on Thursday, September 15, 2011, in the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D C.

Jonathan Gaffney, President & CEO of the National Aeronautic Association, a non-profit membership organization devoted to fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and to  promoting public understand of the importance of aviation and space flight in the United States, opened the ceremony with a warm welcome.

Rol Murrow, Chairman and Lindy Kirkland, President of Air Care Alliance provided a brief history of the Air Care Alliance. They further shared that the NAA and ACA have designed these national awards to recognize the contributions of volunteer-based Public Benefit Flying and the outstanding work of individuals and groups engaged in this humanitarian activity.

Mr. Gaffney and Mr. Murrow Presented the

2011 Public Benefit Flying Awards:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot - Dr. Lewis Young - For steadfast dedication to public benefit flying through his commitment to providing individuals with hope and interacting with Angel Flight Central passengers with a spirit of generosity, dedication and compassion.

Distinguished Volunteer - Dick Gooch - For his exemplary and longstanding volunteerism in public benefit flying on behalf of Angel Flight Central and its clients as a staff member, outreach ambassador, board member and advocate for patients, pilots and staff, as well as his service as handyman extraordinaire.
 

Distinguished Volunteer - Larry Lemke - For his tireless dedication providing more than 7,000 charitable hours of humanitarian flying and other volunteer service in his passion for helping the poorest of the poor realize their dreams and gain self-sufficiency.

 
Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying

- Bruce Robin Stoddard, Wright Flight, Inc., - For a quarter century of dedicated service to American children using aviation to help them discover that they have the Wright stuff.
 

Champion of Public Benefit Flying - 2010 Cessna Special Olympics Airlift - For giving wings to the hopes and dreams of America's

Special Olympic athletes.

All award recipients were in attendance to accept their awards and many with family members and close friends to share this very special time in this very impressive ceremony.

In conclusion, Mr. Gaffney congratulated all award recipients and thanked everyone for attending the ceremony.  He also invited all recipients and their families to dinner at the Union Station.

Please get the word out to your organizations and volunteers and submit those deserving volunteers for an award next year!  See the procedures at www.aircareall.org.