2018 Awards

The 2018 National Public Benefit Flying Awards

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) have created a set of national awards designed to recognize the contributions of those individuals in aviation who fly and volunteer for the benefit of others, public benefit flying organizations, and those who support them.

Aviation Volunteers Honored for Public Benefit Flying
November 27, 2018 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott
in Arlington, Virginia

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA), in partnership with the Air Care Alliance (ACA), a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2018 Public Benefit Flying Awards. These awards were created to honor volunteer pilots, other volunteers, and organizations engaged in flying to help others, as well as those supporting such work.

This year’s recipients are:

Recipients, Families, and Friends

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot:

Earning her first of many pilot certificates in 1975, Merry Schroeder is one of LightHawk’s longest serving volunteers, donating 387 flights since 1987 in some of the most challenging conditions faced by conservation volunteer pilots. She also donated 215 flights with Angel Flight from 2003 to 2017.

Merry remains an active LightHawk volunteer pilot, and has also served as a board member, donor, and community representative.

Distinguished Volunteer:

As members of the Civil Air Patrol’s National Radar Analysis Team, Lt Col John Henderson and 2nd Lt Argon Helm developed and oversaw two new software programs -“The Sandbox”, which allows emergency managers to view a live radar feed for search and rescue efforts and “ICARUS,” which uses computer algorithms to predict when aircraft have crashed.

Their efforts have tremendously improved the speed and accuracy of national, state, and local authorities to locate missing aircraft. Lt Col Henderson has also worked on 315 missing aircraft missions resulting in 198 finds and 20 saves.

Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying:

Joe Howley turned his passion and business success into a vehicle for raising awareness for charitable aviation. With his support and connections, Patient Airlift Services (PALS) has engaged pilots to fly, garnered financial support, and established relationships with partnering organizations, all in the name of furthering the benefits of Public Benefit Flying.

Members of the 2018 Public Benefit Flying Selection Committee were Stephen Danz, 2015 Distinguished Volunteer Pilot; Linda Daschle, President of LHD & Associates, Inc; Rick Durden, Air Care Alliance; and Jane Nicolai, 2015 Distinguished Volunteer Pilot.

Introduction

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) have created a set of national awards designed to recognize the contributions of those individuals in aviation who fly and volunteer for the benefit of others, public benefit flying organizations, and those who support them.

Nominations are due by SEPTEMBER 17 2018 (nominlly the 15th, but dates on a weekend roll over to the next business day) for the National Public Benefit Flying Awards in our Nation’s Capitol! 

After the awards ceremony in Fall of 2018 this page will show the recipients of the awards and other information about the event!

SPECIAL BULLETIN

Call for Nominations 2018 Public Benefit Flying Awards Presented by the National Aeronautic Association In Association with the Air Care Alliance Nominations Accepted through Date to be determined You probably know of a very worthy individual or organization deserving of special recognition for their volunteering beyond normal expectations or for significant achievements benefiting the world of public benefit flying and all those who fly to help others! Remember this is not just about an individual award.  It is about recognizing and promoting the work of all the volunteer pilots and others who engage in this wonderful work.  “When we honor one we honor all!” 2017 National Public Benfit Flying Award Recipients Following the Ceremony These awards are presented at the prestigious Fall Awards Program of the National Aeronautic Association, held each year in Washington DC.  In 2017 more than 250 attendees representing the national aviation associations, governmental agencies, and major aviation companies, plus prominent elected officials, gathered to celebrate the award recipients at a gala dinner. This is your opportunity to have your volunteer and group recognized in a national venue! The Audience at the NAA Public Benefit Flying Awards Here below is current basic information about the awards process.  Requirements may change by the time the deadline is announced in 2018.  Please visit the website link at the end for full information.  We hope that you take a little bit of your time to put together a nomination or two for those you think are especially deserving! Nomination Information  The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) have created a set of national awards designed to recognize the contributions of those individuals who fly for the benefit of others, and their public benefit flying organizations.  We are asking for your help in identifying those who have been doing outstanding work which should be recognized. The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) have created a set of national awards designed to recognize the contributions of those individuals who fly for the benefit of others, and their public benefit flying organizations.  We are asking for your help in identifying those who have been doing outstanding work which should be recognized. Award Categories    Distinguished Volunteer Pilot – awarded to an individual or individuals for outstanding public benefit flying service as a volunteer pilot.    Distinguished Volunteer – awarded to an individual or individuals for outstanding service as a non-flying volunteer working in public benefit flying.    Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying – for outstanding achievement by an individual or organization that helped raise the standard of service of or contributed significantly to the overall advancement of Public Benefit Flying.    Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award – for outstanding cooperation and coordination involving two or more unaffiliated Public Benefit Flying organizations or their parters in the accomplishment of a significant common mission, task, or objective.    Champion of Public Benefit Flying – awarded to an individual, organization, or company who, while not operationally directly involved in Public Benefit Flying, has provided extraordinary support for such efforts and thus advanced the cause of Public Benefit Flying. General Criteria Nominees must be either U.S. citizens or U.S. organizations. Public Benefit Flying is defined as those activities, conducted largely by volunteers, in which one or more general aviation aircraft were used to support the health and well being of anyone needing charitable assistance or for the benefit of the general public, and for which no fee was charged for the aircraft or for pilot services. Awards are intended to honor the efforts of volunteers working in the field of public benefit flying, or those who support them.  Awards may be granted to individuals, teams, groups, or organizations, as appropriate. Awards may be based on just one or on several extraordinary events or accomplishments or may be based on long term or lifetime achievement.  This must be clearly expressed in the nominating material. Nominators and nominees must understand that the award recipient or a representative is expected to attend the ceremony in Washington D.C. to personally accept the award. Deadline and Submission Process The nomination, signed by the nominator, or by an officer of the administering office of an organization submitting it, must be received by NAA at its offices by September 17, 2018. Please email your Word document to: pbfnomination@naa.aero Selection Committee The selection committee will be comprised of prominent individuals and representatives of aviation organizations nominated by both NAA and ACA.  Awardees will be honored at the NAA Fall Awards Banquet in Arlington, Virginia in November or December, date to be announced. For important information on the nominations criteria and procedures and a list of prior recipients please visit https://naa.aero/awards/awards-and-trophies/public-benefit-flying-awards and be sure to follow the guidelines link at the top or bottom of the page.  You may also email your questions to awards-events@naa.aero. To see stories and photos from last year’s 2017 Public Benefit Flying Awards see that page plus the NAA site above.

     … for thinking of how you can honor those who contribute so much to volunteer-based Public Benefit Flying!