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Every day, members of the general aviation community perform heroic acts that touch people’s lives and bring families closer together. As part of their “Heroes Among Us” series, People magazine featured Walt Fricke and his efforts to unite recovering soldiers with their loved ones through his nonprofit organization, Veterans Airlift Command (VAC). Fricke, a veteran Vietnam War pilot, began this endeavor in 2006 because of his experience in a Kentucky military hospital after he was injured in Vietnam. Being 500 miles away from his fiancée and family took a toll on him, he says, but after reuniting with his family, he began to feel much better.
 
According to the article, through VAC’s 1,400 volunteer pilots and aircraft owners, the organization has reunited 1,800 injured servicemen and women with their loved ones. He and his daughter, Jen, accommodate more than seven flights a week. The Alliance for Aviation Across America applauds Mr. Fricke and the many volunteers who give their time and planes to help those who have given so much to us.
 
You can read the entire article here or pick up the January, 25 issue of People. 

According to Angel Flight East’s Maureen Schmidt, the first relief mission will head to Haiti this weekend.  Angel Flight coordinates free air transportation to those who need immediate medical attention, to deliver relief supplies and to reunite families during trying times.  Pilots who want to help in the effort can find out more by going to angelflighteast.org.
  
There are other ways to help Haitian earthquake victims. Because of the damaged airport infrastructure and the large number of relief flights already taking place, the best thing GA pilots can do for now is donate money and steer clear of the area. This will allow military aircraft and humanitarian agencies to more easily move into the area and continue the relief effort.
 
That said, you may register your aircraft on the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) website http://www.nbaa.org/news/2010/haiti/registration/aircraft.php to help the US Department of Homeland Security identify all available aviation resources as soon as possible.  NBAA will collect and submit all information to DHS who will identify and match the aircraft to a specific need in Haiti, if possible.
 
The tragedy in Haiti is awful and our hearts go out to the victims there.  We’ll keep posting new information as it comes up and in the meantime will donate as many resources as we can to the relief effort.