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.
The 2014 National Public Benefit Flying Awards were presented at the Fall Awards Program of the National Aeronautic Association in November, 2014. See a story about the event and the award recipients below!
AND – enjoy reading about the many prior recipients! Their stores and awards are described in the Public Benefit Flying Awards Recipients Booklet – read it by clicking here.
On November 5th the Air Care Alliance and the National Aeronautic Association collaborated once again to present the National Public Benefit Flying Awards, created to honor outstanding volunteer pilots, their organizations, and those who support their work.
ACA was proud to have the awards presented as part of the NAA Fall Awards program, when prestigious national awards are presented for a variety of purposes. These include the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Paul Tissandler Diploma, the Frank G. Brewer Trophy for aerospace education, the Katherine Wright Memorial Trophy, the Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award, and the Mackay Trophy honoring the most meritorious flight of the year by the United States Air Force. The National Public Benefit Flying Awards are in good company!
More than 250 leaders of aviation associations, industry groups, and government agencies were in attendance at this gala dinner event in the Washington DC area. Our participation helps spread the word about the work of the volunteer pilots among these influential citizens, who gain a better appreciation of the remarkable services provided to those who have special needs and to the nation at large.
We are pleased to announce the recipients of two Public Benefit Flying Awards this year.
A retired airline pilot who has logged 32,000 flight hours, JJ Quinn received the Distinguished
Volunteer Pilot Award for his more than twenty years of flying to help those in need and to serve
his community, donating his time and airplane to Patient Airlift Services, Pilots n Paws, Wounded Warriors, Young Eagles, and Angel Flight Mid Atlantic. In addition he has volunteered extensively for various community projects and programs. As a volunteer pilot, JJ represents the vast community of volunteer pilots, and, as noted during the event, “When we honor one we honor all.”
Jack Pelton, Chairman of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and former CEO of Cessna Aircraft Company, kindly attended to accept the Champion of Public Benefit Flying Award on behalf of EAA. This award honors EAA and its Young Eagles Program for supporting tens of thousands of volunteer pilots who have now provided almost two million free introductory rides to young people, inspiring them with the new physical and intellectual perspectives gained through the experience of flight.J
Attending the event were ACA’s Chairman Jeff Kahn, Executive Vice President Lindy Kirkland, Member of the Board Cody Welch, and President Rol Murrow, who gave the introductory remarks for the Public Benefit Flying Awards.
We thank the National Aeronautic Association and its president Jonathan Gaffney for the opportunity to celebrate public benefit flying as a feature event during NAA’s annual Fall Awards program. And we invite you to learn more about NAA and its wonderful awards programs by visiting the NAA website!
Also, photographs of the event are at the 2014 Fall Awards Photos Page.
(This article was published in the Fall 2014 issue of our eNewsletter, Flight Following.)