Air Safety Institute receives ‘Champion of Public Benefit Flying’ award

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 institute’s 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, according to officials. To view the course, click here.

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.”