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MISSION
STATEMENT |
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The Air
Care Alliance promotes, supports,
and represents public benefit flying
through communication and cooperation
among organizations facilitating flights
for health, compassion, and community
service. |
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MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL |
RENEW TODAY and SUPPORT ACA!
Annual membership renewal information
has been emailed.
The Air Care Alliance
needs your continued support - both
financially and with your updated
listing information. 'Thank you" to
those of you who have already sent in
your data and your dues. For those of
you who have not done so, please
return your data sheet and your
membership renewal as soon as
possible.
The Air Care Alliance lists and makes
referrals to all the groups we can find.
If your volunteer pilot organization is
not on the Listings Page at
www.aircareall.org/listings.htm
or if you have not received your data
sheet and invoice, please contact
sandy.johnson@aircareall.org
Scroll below for a list of our 2012
proud members.
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2012 PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING AWARDS
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 Cast
your votes for the 2012 Public Benefit
Flying Awards by May 31st
The National Aeronautic
Association (NAA) and the
Air Care Alliance (ACA)
created the National Public
Benefit Flying Awards to
recognize the significant contributions to
the Nation of volunteer-based
Public Benefit Flying and the
outstanding work of the individuals and
organizations engaged in this humanitarian
activity.
Since 2003 dozens of awards have been
presented at the celebratory
"Above and Beyond" awards
ceremony, held each fall in the
United States Capitol Building.
The five awards categroies are:
-Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
-Distinguished Volunteer
-Outstanding Achievement
-Teamwork
-Champion of Public Benefit Flying
For
complete information and nomination
procedures please visit:
http://www.aircareall.org/2012-awards.htm
Nominations will be accepted via
email only through May 31st.
The awards ceremony will take place in
Washington, DC this
fall. Watch your email for more
nomination information! |
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JEFFREY KAHN'S
LEGAL CORNER |
FAA REAUTHORIZATION BILL ALLOWS
FUEL REIMBURSEMENT FOR PILOTS CHARITABLE
MEDICAL FLIGHTS
On February 14, 2012 President
Obama signed the FAA
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012,
a long-awaited Re-Authorization bill to
fund the Federal Aviation
Administration.
Unfortunately, conflicting provisions
in the House and
Senate versions giving
liability protection to volunteer pilots
and organizations were omitted entirely
from the final bill.
However buried in the Bill is a
Valentine's Day present for
organizations that have been seeking
to provide fuel reimbursements for its
volunteers and do not have an
exemption from the FAA.
§821 of the Act is a provision that
requires the FAA to interpret FAR
§61.113(c) to:
. . . allow an aircraft owner or
operator to accept reimbursement from a
volunteer pilot organization for the
fuel costs associated with a flight
operation to provide transportation for
an individual or organ for medical
purposes . . ."
Here are some key points:
1)A pilot flying medical patients or
organs does not violate §61.113(c)
merely by accepting fuel reimbursement
from a volunteer pilot organization.
2) The FAA may (but is not
required to) issue regulations governing
pilot standards (which it always had the
power to do). Of course, if they VPO's
act responsibly, the FAA may see no
pressing need to regulate.
3) The Act was effective immediately
upon signing, without any action from
the FAA.
4)In exemptions from granted to
certain volunteer pilot organizations,
the FAA has given us some indication
of their viewpoint on safety standards
where pilots receive reimbursement.
To review the exemptions, go to
http://aes.faa.gov/
and search by entering "61.113(c)" in
the "Regulation" box.
More to come at Air Care 2012 in New
Orleans!
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
2011-2012
Officers
Rol Murrow
ACA Board Chairman
Emergency Volunteer
Air Corps
Charles (Lindy) Kirkland
ACA President
Angel Flight East
Jim Weaver
ACA Vice President
Angel Flight West
Karen Halverson
ACA Secretary
Lifeline Pilots
Jeff Kahn
ACA Treasurer
Angel Flight East
Directors
Judy Benjamin
Angel Flight Central
Hume Davenport
Southwings
Rick Durden
LightHawk
Sandy Johnson
Angel Flight Soars
Kevin Sell
Volunteer Pilots Association
Christopher St. Peter
Operation Angel Planes &
Angel Flight West
Gary St. Peter
Operation Angel Planes
Bill Worden
ACA President Emeritus
Angel Flight West & EVAC
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ACA MEMBER LIST |
SEE WHO ALREADY FLIES WITH US!
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!
Proud Members
AeroAngel
Angel Flight Central, Inc.
Angel Flight East
Angel Flight Northeast
Angel Flight Soars, Inc.
Angel Flight West
Angel Flight, Inc. (Oklahoma)
Aviation for Humanity
Badger Aviation Inc.
Bahamas Habitat
Children's Flight of Hope,
Inc.
Dreams and Wings, Inc.
Emergency Volunteer Air Corps
(EVAC)
Hope Flight Foundation
LifeLine Pilots
LightHawk
Mercy Flight Southeast
Operation Angel Planes
Patient Airlift Services
Pilots for Christ, Inc.
Pilots for Patients
Sky Hope Network
Veteran's Airlift Command
Vital Flight, Inc.
Volunteer Mercy Pilots (MI)
Volunteer Pilots Association
Wings Flights of Hope
Wings for Children - SC
Wings of Mercy - Michigan
(West)
Listing Only
Aerobridge
Air Charity
Network (ACN)
Airlift
Hope of North Carolina
Airlift
Hope of Tennessee
Angel
Flight Australia
Angel
Flight Europe
Angel
Flight Mid-Atlantic
Angel
Flight of Kentucky
Angel
Flight of Maryland
Angel
Flight of Michigan
Angel
Flight of Ohio
Angel
Flight of Vancouver Island (CANADA)
Angel
Flight of Virginia
Angel
Flight South Central
Angel
Flight Southeast
Cair
Flight, Inc.
Challenge
Air for Kids & Friends
Christian
Air Ministry
Civil Air
Patrol
Cloud Nine
Rescue Flights
Corporate
Angel Network
EAA Young
Eagles
Flights for
Life, Inc.
Flying Paws
Flying
Samaritans
Freedom
Flight
Grace
Flight
Grace on
Wings
Help Four
Paws
His Wings
Aviation Ministries
Hope Air of
Canada
Hope Wings
Foundation
Houston
Ground Angels & Pilots
International Shrine Aviation Assoc.
Kids Wings
Liga -
Flying Doctors of Mercy
Medflight
of Indiana, Inc.
Mercy
Flight Alabama
Mercy
Flight Indiana aka Wings of
Mercy-Indiana
Mercy
Medical Airlift (MMA)
Mercy Wings
Network
Miracle
Flights for Kids
Missions
Made Possible
N.C.
Baptist Men Aviation Ministry
Northwoods
AirLifeLine LLC
Oklahoma
Baptist Men Aviation Ministry
One Heart
Missions Services
Pilots for
Christ Intl.
Pilots N
Paws
Remote Area
Medical Volunteer Corps
Servant Air
Ministries (FL Chptr of Pilots for
Christ)
SkyArk,
Inc.
South
Wings, Inc.
Wings for
Children - PA
Wings of
Hope, Inc.(MO)
Wings of
Mercy - Minnesota
Be
a Member of ACA today!
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JOIN OUR LIST
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Official Newsletter of the
Air Care Alliance
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March 2012 |
Dear Rol,
The Value of
Sharing Information
Rol Murrow, Chairman of
the Board
Each year many leaders of
public benefit flying
groups enjoy sharing their
experiences and practices
at the Air Care
Conference.
In addition most of the
groups, whether
ACA members or
not, understand the
importance of completing
our annual survey of
operations so we can
report to the media and
the public how many
flights are provided by
volunteer pilots to help
those in need and our
communities.
Another very important
value of sharing your
group's information is to
emphasize to our elected
officials and to agencies
such as the FAA
and NTSB
the scale of our
charitable activities and
how important they are to
those served by our
volunteers.
Many of your groups have
provided us information
requested by the NTSB in
response to their
recommendations for
enhanced safety, following
a few tragic accidents
several years ago.
We will be discussing how
groups ensure best
practices for their staff
and pilots at this year's
conference. In addition
we will be sending out a
survey form for all groups
to indicate how they may
be responding to the NTSB
recommendations.
Please work with your own
group's leaders to make
sure the survey is
completed and your
information is shared.
You will help both your
group, all your
volunteers, and all those
in other groups by
participating in the
survey!
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Friends of the Air
Care Alliance
Charles Kirkland
(Lindy), President of the
Board
It has been a busy year
since our terrific
Air Care Conference
last year in
Providence and we
are making final
preparations for another
outstanding event in
New Orleans!
Philip Thomas
and Pilots for
Patients have
pulled out all the stops
and everyone who attends
is in for a huge dose of
good ole' "Suthun
Hospitality."
The ACA Board
has also been working hard
on finishing our Web
project and our
AOPA/ACA Online
Safety Course that we have
all been waiting for.
The nationwide media
project is in full swing
and if you have been
watching the blogs, you
have seen a tremendous
upswing in the amount of
print and TV coverage on
your wonderful
Public Benefit Flying
activities. Keep up the
great work in getting the
word out.
Speaking of recognition,
we are announcing the
opening of nominations for
the National
Aeronautic Association
Pubic Benefit Flying
Awards. The
nominations period is open
and I encourage each and
every one of you to
nominate one of your
fellow volunteers or a
derserving group. These
awards are a wonderful way
to honor those who are
doing so much to help
their fellow citizens
out. Thanks for all you
are doing and I hope you
can join us in April for a
wonderful time in New
Orleans!
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Air Care Conference - Register Now! |
is
proudly hosting the
2012 Air
Care Alliance Conference
April 13-14, 2011
In
Fabulous New Orleans!
Mark your calendars now to be in
New Orleans for the annual
Air Care Alliance Conference,
April 13-14, 2012. In addition
to the opportunity to learn from and rub
shoulders with your colleagues who are
serving in leadership roles in the
public benefit flying, you will be able
to experience the magic of one of the
most exciting cities in the country!
New Orleans is one of the world's most
fascinating cities. Steeped in a history
of influences from Europe, the
Caribbean, Africa and beyond, its
brilliant mosaic of culture, food and
music will entice you. You'll find
brimming bowls of gumbo, remarkable
jazz, strolls through historic
neighborhoods, and a rich and
tantalizing culture. Come and experience
one of America's most culturally and
historically rich destinations.
Our hotel venue for the 2012 ACA
Conference will be the Hilton
New Orleans Riverside, located
on the banks of the Mississippi
River and adjacent to the
famous French Quarter.
Check it out at
www.neworleansriversidehotel.com.
*****
NOTE: The conference hotel is
now full! There are
other hotels with rooms nearby and in
nearby communities. Because of the area
festival they are filling up fast.
Please run a search and book your rooms
now. Some hotels with rooms as of March
20 are: the Four Points Sheraton located
in Metairie 3 miles from the New Orleans
airport and 9 miles from the French
Quarter
www.starwoodhotels.com; also the
Wyndham, the Holiday Inn French Quarter,
and the Royal St. Charles near the
Hilton. Most of the more affordable
hotels seem to be out near the airport.
Friday Evening
Your taste buds are in for a treat!
Tommy Cvitanovich, President of
the Louisiana Restaurant Association,
will be cooking his famous BBQ oysters,
just for our group! We will be going to
Ernst Café, across the
street from the hotel, where Tommy will
cook for us and we will have our meet
and greet. You can stay and dine at
Ernst Café or visit one of the many
restaurants in the French
Quarter.
Saturday Night
We are very excited about visiting the
National World War II Museum
for dinner and a show. On the Air is a
rollicking rendition of a live radio
broadcast from 1945. The cast of five
and a live band bring the era to life
with a timeless musical score, comedy
and more! Go to
www.nationalww2museum.org to
find out more about the country's
official World War II museum. Dinner
seating 6pm, Show 8pm $60
The conference itself will have its own
brand of magic, offering you and your
organization an opportunity to avail
yourselves of such enriching topics and
information as:
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Operating your organization in this
tough economic climate |
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Developing your Board for maximum
performance |
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Key elements of Strategic Planning,
and why do it |
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Mission Coordinators Roundtable |
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Effective mobilization of volunteers
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The essentials of budgeting and
internal financial controls |
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Whys and hows of Risk Management |
___________________________
Block these dates in your
calendars now
and be sure to attend what
promises to be one of the best
Air Care Alliance Conferences
of all time!
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Media At Work |
Visibility Can Bring New Clents and
New Donors
As you probably know by now, several
months ago
AOPA
asked its public relations agency,
Barton Gilanelli & Associates
(BG), to convince local and
national media to do stories about
Air Care Alliance
members and their missions.
Click on the following links and
you'll see several recent examples
of BG's efforts to generate local
coverage. The groups mentioned are
reporting tremendous enthusiasm from
the public for their work as a
result of the articles!
The Main Line Times, a
suburban Philadelphia newspaper (Click
Here)
To help them help you, you'll be
receiving an email from Judith
Eckles, BG's senior PR
account executive. The email is a
media pitch with blanks for you to
fill in the details. Of course you can
also provide additional facts and
information. Most importantly, BG
asks that you provide the details for
a compelling mission. They will take
that info and turn it into a creative
pitch intended to motivate the media
to do a story.
Working together, their goal is to get
your local media to do stories just
like the one you read a few moments
ago. This story resulted from a media
pitch that included information
similar to what they're asking for
now.
Let BG help you raise your visibility
in the community to help you to get
new pilots, new patients and new
donors!
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ACA Member Spotlight |
Wings of
Mercy
Eastern Michigan
Incorporated in 1995 Wings of
Mercy East Michigan provides
free air transportation in private
aircraft to and from medical centers for
individuals who otherwise would not be
able to travel. The organization has
traveled 38.9 times around the world for
their patients. They serve the Eastern
half of Michigan's Lower Peninsula.
Flights are coordinated utilizing a
Virtual Private Network
that links their Flight
Coordinator and
Screener. Wings of Mercy East
Michigan does reimburse their volunteer
pilots for fuel per an FAA exemption
letter specific to the organization.
Founder and President, Cody
Welch, shares his favorite
story - "This past year I was given the
opportunity to fly 'Helen' from
Asheville, NC to
Oscoda MI. 'Helen', a
slightly built woman in her late 60's
was delivered to the FBO
in AVL via ambulance
from the hospital. Her entire worldly
possessions were contained within two
small suitcases. She has cancer in her
spine and required a large quantity of
medical oxygen.
'Helen' boarded our single engine
Jetprop and immediately engaged our crew
with her wit and humor. She spent the
majority of the flight staring out the
window, obviously deep in thought. At
one point she blurted out a question on
our intercom.. "Do you know why I am
flying to Oscoda?" I answered no, we
don't... She responded that she was
going to live with her friend. Nothing
else was offered.
After shutting down in Oscoda on this
clear winter day, an original Chevy
Suburban came rumbling up to the plane.
This vehicle was completely rusted out,
the windows were hazed over and it was
riding quite high in the nose with the
rear shocks completely depressed. A
late 60's gentleman with a large white
beard exited the vehicle and immediately
pulled me aside to talk. He inquired
about whether I knew what was going on.
When I said no and that we respect the
privacy of our recipients, he asked if
he could share his story.
He said that he and 'Helen' had been
in love as younger people and that he
should have married her 40 years
earlier. Life got in the way and the
two went different directions. His
wife had died within the past year and
he recently learned that his first
true love was also dying and penniless
without family. He told me that there
was no way that this fine lady would
spend the rest of her days alone and
that he was going to love her and take
care of her.
At that point he greeted 'Helen' for
the first time in 40 years. The look
on her face will be forever etched in
my mind. My final memory of this
flight is of 'Helen' sitting in that
Suburban with her first boyfriend,
bearing a grin that was all telling.
They drove away like teenagers in
love. All was right in their world.
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General email:
mail@aircareall.org
Office Phone and Patient Transport Help
Line:
Toll Free: 888-260-9707
Office Fax: 815-572-9192
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