AOPA Foundation's Air Safety Institute Receives "Champion of Public Benefit Flying" Award

Aug. 16, 2013

          Contact: Steve Hedges
                        301-695-2159
                        [email protected]

Frederick, MD – The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Foundation’s Air Safety Institute has been named a joint recipient of the 2013 Champion of Public Benefit Flying Award presented by the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) in partnership with the Air Care Alliance, a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations.

The new online course, “Public Benefit Flying: Balancing Safety and Compassion” increased public benefit flying’s safety awareness by helping volunteer pilots manage risk and avoid harm. (To view the course, visit: http://flash.aopa.org/asf/volunteerpilots/index.cfm )

The Public Benefit Flying Awards were created to honor pilot volunteers and organizations engaged in charitable flight activities.

“We are grateful to the National Aeronautic Association and Air Care Alliance for this recognition of our safety work focused on public benefit flying,” said Bruce Landsberg, president of the AOPA Foundation. “Our goal with the course was to address the risks and safety solutions involved in this unique general aviation activity. Our hope is that this course will make flight easier and safer for volunteer pilots and their passengers.”

Public benefit flying involves such activities as transporting medical patients, wounded warriors, emergency supplies and even animals.

“The recipients of the 2013 Public Benefit Flying Awards demonstrate again the diversity of public benefit flying in America and the many different people who benefit from it,” said NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney.

Air Care Alliance Chairman Rol Murrow notes, “We honor these recipients not only for their own contributions but also because they represent all those others who fly patients for care, respond following disasters, provide educational flights for youth, protect our environment, help our veterans, and provide support in many other ways to those in need.”

The NAA is a non-profit membership organization devoted to fostering opportunities to participate fully in aviation activities and to promoting public understanding of the importance of aviation and space flight to the United States. The NAA is the caretaker of several major aviation awards, and certifies all world and national aviation records set in the United States. For information, visit www.naa.aero.

The Air Care Alliance is a nonprofit public service organization supporting the work of dozens of volunteer-based charitable organizations whose members fly to help others. ACA is devoted to fostering, enhancing, and promoting public benefit flying in the United States and other countries.  For information, visit www.aircareall.org.

About AOPA

Since 1939, AOPA has protected the freedom to fly for thousands of pilots, aircraft owners and aviation enthusiasts. With a membership base of nearly 400,000, AOPA is the largest aviation association in the world. With representatives based in Frederick, Md., Washington, D.C., and seven regions across the United States, AOPA provides member services that range from advocacy at the federal, state, and local levels to legal services, flight planning products, safety programs and award-winning media products. To learn more, visit www.aopa.org. 

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