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