AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2015 - 4

PRESIDENT'S POSITION

Acts of service

BY MARK BAKER
AOPA President and CEO

General aviation pilots give back

AOPA PRESIDENT

Mark Baker is an
active pilot and
enjoys introducing
others to flying.

4 | AOPA PILOT November 2015

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS UPON US AGAIN-a wonderful
time to bask in the joys of family and friends. And, for
me, the Thanksgiving holiday is always a time to step
back and be grateful for the people and experiences
that enrich my life.
General aviation has been a cornerstone of my world
since I was a kid sitting at the airport fence, bumming
rides. I can honestly say that GA has played a big part
in making me who I am. And I'm grateful to be able to
give something back.
As a group, pilots are some of the most generous
people I know. And because we tend to feel passionately about GA, we want to share it with others.
If you feel that way-and I know many of you do-
there are almost limitless ways to do good while you do
what you love. Not every mission is suitable for every
pilot or every airplane, but regardless of where your
interests lie, there's a group of pilots just like you who
are making the world a better place. (AOPA awards
grants to charitable organizations doing good each year;
see "Giving Back Grant Recipients," p. 36.)
Pilots nationwide routinely connect patients with
potentially life-saving medical care. For people who live
in remote locations or must travel for specialized medical tests or treatment, GA can make getting care possible.
And for those receiving treatment far from home, spending time with family members and loved ones can make
a huge difference in their recovery. Many groups also
bring patients, like wounded veterans, home for visits or
help family members get to patients in distant locations.
Groups like Air Care Alliance, Air Charity Network,
Angel Flight, Children's Flight of Hope, Corporate
Angel Network, LifeLine Pilots, Mercy Medical Angels,
Miracle Flights for Kids, Northwoods Airlifeline, Patient
AirLift Services, Veterans Airlift Command, Volunteer
Pilots Association, and Wings of Mercy work with pilots
to provide free transportation.
Other charitable groups help coordinate humanitarian relief and crisis response in the United States and
abroad. When a hurricane, earthquake, or other natural disaster strikes, GA pilots may be among the first
who can reach victims with food, supplies, and medical
personnel aboard. Groups providing this kind of coordination include Bahamas Habitat, Flying Samaritans,
LIGA International/Flying Doctors of Mercy, Los
Medicos Voladores, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Orbis,
and Wings of Hope.

For lost hikers, downed aircrews, and others who
can't make their way to safety alone, there's no more
beautiful sight than the flash of wings and no more
beautiful sound than the hum of an aircraft engine. The
Civil Air Patrol performs aerial search and rescue operations, disaster relief, and humanitarian services through
formal agreements with groups including the American
Red Cross, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
and U.S. Coast Guard. As the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary,
the group also runs extensive programs to introduce
young people to aviation and has squadrons nationwide.
GA also is uniquely suited to support wildlife observation, aerial surveys, aerial imaging, and other forms
of study that provide data to researchers and advocates in the field. Because aviation provides a special
perspective, it plays an important role in assessing
the environmental impact of everything from climate
change to animal migration. Groups that put volunteer pilots to work on conservation efforts include
LightHawk, SouthWings, On Wings of Care, and
Operation Migration, whose pilots help guide endangered whooping cranes along their migratory route.
But Operation Migration's pilots aren't the only
animal lovers serving the feathered and furred community. Numerous organizations support animal rescue
efforts, often delivering unwanted or abandoned dogs,
cats, and other pets to new homes where they'll receive
the love and care they've missed. If that sounds like
something you'd like to do, consider connecting with
Animal Rescue Flights, Flying Paws, or Pilots N Paws.
If you're more interested in providing special experiences to two-legged passengers, consider working
with a group that shares the thrill of flight with youngsters. The Experimental Aircraft Association's Young
Eagles program has provided nearly 2 million rides to
kids nationwide, giving them their first taste of GA. For
children with special needs, Challenge Air provides
life-changing GA experiences. Both organizations regularly need volunteers at locations nationwide.
As GA pilots, we've got something very special going
for us. What better way to give thanks in this holiday
season than to share your gifts with others? Consider
joining the thousands of pilots who give back through
volunteering and charitable flying. And if you're
already among that number-thank you.
AOPA
EMAIL mark@aopa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2015