New partnership promotes general aviation’s fellowship and service

The Air Care Alliance (ACA), a community of humanitarian flying organizations, has partnered with the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR) to promote general aviation “as an opportunity for fellowship and service,” according to officials.

The two organizations have created a presentation available to Rotary Clubs, as well as other organizations, that not only publicizes the availability of free air transportation for non-emergency medical and other compelling needs, but also highlights the opportunities for general aviation pilots to get involved as volunteer pilots.

All across the U.S. volunteer pilots provide free flights to patients in need of accessing distant healthcare and for other compelling needs, which is commonly known as “public benefit flying.”

“However, free flights to medical care is a little known resource,” ACA officials said. “For the non-profit organizations that compose the Air Care Alliance and arrange the flights, raising awareness of their services is a constant and costly challenge requiring duplicative efforts and significant resources.”

The new presentation promotes public benefit flying on a national level through organizations that have a broad reach, such as Rotary.

“The aim is to leverage the established networks and service mindset of such organizations to help spread awareness to those in need and recruit more pilot volunteers,” ACA officials said.

The new outreach efforts kicked off with a presentation at a Rotary meeting March 2, 2023, in Braintree, Massachusetts. Next up: A Rotary meeting March 14 in Kirkland, Washington.

For more information about the presentation, contact Alan Dias west of the Mississippi River or Mark Hanson east of the Mississippi.