Pilots still needed for Haiti relief flights

Bahamas Habitat’s aviation relief operation recently completed its 250th relief mission to Haiti. To date, volunteer pilots and aircraft have delivered more than 200,000 pounds of medical supplies and food, as well as more than 70 medical personnel along with their equipment, to Haiti’s outlying airports using general aviation aircraft. Operations are continuing and more volunteer pilots are needed.

“We had planes in action within 48 hours of the event and have been flying non-stop since,” said John Armstrong, president. “Many of our first responders are returning for multiple missions and we still need more volunteers.”

The organization recently launched its “Pilots Pay It Forward” system to help volunteer pilots cover their fuel for relief flights.

“The message we are sending out to all pilots is that we still need their help,” Armstrong said. “Though pilots aren’t seeing the distressing scenes on the nightly news like they were, the need for what we are doing has not diminished.”

The organization has had more than 150 general aviation airplanes of all types involved. Mission pilots have come from all over the U.S. and Canada, from Boston to California and every region in between, Armstrong said.

For more information: BahamasHabitat.org