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News Release 11-12-10

       

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
For information contact:
Lindy Kirkland 540.903.7580
 

Air Care Alliance Presents Check to AOPA Foundation for Online Safety Course for Volunteer Pilot Operations 

AT AOPA SUMMIT (Long Beach, CA) Nov 12, 2010 --- Volunteer Pilots Flying to Help Others.

The Air Care Alliance is pleased to announce the payment of the first installment of funding for a new online safety course designed for Volunteer Pilot Operations. The AOPA Foundation’s Air Safety Institute and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) have teamed together to begin work on a course designed to help improve safety in volunteer pilot operations. The course will have the look and feel of previous AOPA online courses and will be designed for aviators who volunteer their time and aircraft for charitable purposes, especially patient transport missions. With this first installment of funding work can begin in earnest to create the content and computer code for the course.

Additionally, ACA is seeking input and ideas from the entire volunteer pilot community. ACA lists more than 60 public benefit flying groups on its website and is soliciting input and course content from all interested groups.

“We want to ensure that this course provides meaningful safety recommendations for all the groups engaged in volunteer pilot operations” said Lindy Kirkland, Air Care Alliance President. “We intend for it to be a tool that the groups can use to help orient new pilots as well as to remind long-time volunteers about the unique safety considerations which affect volunteer operations.” The next step will be to host a future initial conference for all interested groups to finalize the outline and provide additional content for the course writers.

The Volunteer Pilot Operations Safety Course is being developed in response to NTSB recommendations to the Air Care Alliance that were published earlier this year dealing with volunteer pilot operations, following several accidents during 2007-2008 involving patient transport flights (see http://www.aircareall.org/ntsb.htm). The community of charitable aviators recognizes that there is still much that can be done to enhance the already strong culture of safety of volunteer pilot operations. This will be one additional and useful tool that groups can use to help facilitate safer operations.

The AOPA Foundation is matching donations in support of this project. Already individuals as well as volunteer pilot groups such as Angel Flight West, Operation Angel Planes, and LightHawk have pledged the initial funds to get this project started. More donations would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to the Air Care Alliance, marked “Volunteer Pilot Operations Safety Course.”

The mission of the ACA is to promote, support, and represent public benefit flying through communication and cooperation among organizations facilitating flights for health, compassion, and community service. Public benefit flying organizations have existed for decades, but the need to share resources and coordinate efforts became clear in November 1990. At the invitation of founder and volunteer pilot Bill Worden, nineteen volunteer pilot organizations met at the national headquarters of Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA) to form the Air Care Alliance (ACA). Currently there are more than sixty such pilot organizations that can be contacted using the ACA Listings Page on its website. By promoting interaction and cooperation among these nonprofit groups, the Air Care Alliance is able to direct the public to an organization that best meets their needs, helping ensure a quick and qualified response. If you require assistance, have resources, or are involved with other volunteer pilot organizations, please do not hesitate to contact us or the groups listed on the ACA website at www.AirCareAll.org, or through the help-line at 888-260-9707.

   Air Care
Alliance     2060 State Highway 595   Lindrith, New Mexico 87029
          
www.AirCareAll.org    Help Line: 888.260.9707    Fax: 1.877.420.7391

  

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