News & Events

We will periodically publish our bulletin, Flight Following, on our website and also send it directly via email in order to make sending and receiving it as convenient as possible for everyone.

This journal is intended for volunteer pilots, group leaders, other volunteers, professional staff, and all those interested in the incredible world of public benefit flying! Feel free to pass it along to others. We hope it provides useful information making it easier for those who use aviation in public service do a better and more enjoyable job of flying to help others!

We will also post news and event information from the world of charitable aviation on our blog.

COVID-19 Disrupts Public Benefit Flying, but We Are Resilient

May 6, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly changed life as we know it. Amid an aviation industry nosedive, sweeping stay-at-home orders, and widespread panic, the Public Benefit Flying industry–like so many others–is left to wonder what the future holds. Each year, more than 25,000 flights are made by volunteer pilots across the country in support of humanitarian […]

SFAR Grants Relief for Expired Medical Certificates and Recency Requirements

May 4, 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA has issued a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) the extends the duration of medical certificates to all pilots.  It also provides relief from recent flight experience requirements, but only to certain pilots and operations. The FAA emphasizes that apart from the limited relief provided by the SFAR, […]

Nominations for Public Benefit Flying Awards are Open!

May 1, 2020

Do you know someone doing great things for Public Benefit Flying? Whether a volunteer pilot, a non-flying volunteer, or an individual or organization providing extraordinary support, you can help give them the recognition they deserve. Nominate someone deserving today! About the Awards The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) created the […]

COVID-19 Considerations for Volunteer Pilot Operations

March 31, 2020

As volunteer pilot organizations around the country grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, the safety and well-being of passengers and pilots has remained top focus in a rapidly changing landscape. Many Volunteer Pilot Organizations have temporarily suspended passenger-carrying operations and others are considering that decision on a day-to-day basis in light of current government restrictions, new […]

Fuel Reimbursement for Volunteer Pilots

February 5, 2020

Do you receive fuel reimbursement for your volunteer flights? Do you want to? Would you accept more flights if you could? Under current FAA regulations, a pilot cannot accept any compensation for these flights other than in the form of logging time or taking a tax deduction. This is true unless the organization arranging your […]

President’s Announcement: ACA Hires First Executive Director

February 4, 2020

In 2019, the Board of Directors of the Air Care Alliance developed a new vision for the future of our organization: “The Air Care Alliance will maximize charitable aviation through organizations and pilots flying to serve the needs of humanity.” This new vision leads to new strategies for ACA and a support model that ensures […]

Member Spotlight – Winter 2020

January 2, 2020

The Air Care Alliance is proud to support the many public benefit flying organizations that impact our communities and individuals in need. Check out some recent news, stories, and noteworthy achievements of a few member groups below.     Exemplary training exercise demonstrated by DART – Disaster Airlift Response Teams     Soaring with the […]

Changes to FAA Call Sign Requirements Affect CMF

January 2, 2020

FAA and ICAO changes to call sign requirements meant a revamp of the way volunteer pilots use the COMPASSION call sign. The original filing process using a portion of the aircraft’s tail number is no longer valid and ACA has begun assigning discrete COMPASSION call signs to verified pilots of authorized organizations. “ACA has worked […]

2020 Awards

November 6, 2019

Two Aviation Volunteers Honored for Public Benefit Flying 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 2020 Public Benefit Flying Awards. These awards were created to honor volunteer pilots, other volunteers, and organizations engaged in […]

CMF History

November 5, 2019

Original 1999 Letter to Public Benefit Flying Groups and Pilots May 29, 1999 TO: Public Benefit Flying Organizations and Pilots RE: Call Sign COMPASSION and three-letter designator CMF Dear Friends, On the first of this month at the Air Care Alliance 1999 national conference in Kansas City I announced that at our request the FAA […]