Flight Following
News from the Air Care Alliance. Supporting, promoting, and representing volunteer pilots and charitable aviation.
Those involved with volunteer flying have likely felt the frustration of limited pilot resources. We all want to be able to complete more flights, but let’s face it, flying is expensive! There’s a limit to the amount any pilot can give. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could defray a pilot’s cost of flying charitable […] Read More
Written by Rick Durden, Vice President, Air Care Alliance Originally published by Air Care Alliance, March 2017 Updated and republished in June, 2020 Introduction: The FAA has been cracking down on illegal part 135 operations, increasing both investigations and enforcement actions against pilots and operators. On May 22, the FAA sent an informational letter to […] Read More
Air Care Alliance is pleased to announce the election of three new Members to its Board of Directors: Mark Hanson, Jim Stratton and Katharine Zimmerman. “Our Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team of leaders committed to fostering and enhancing charitable aviation,” said Jim Hesseman, President of Air Care Alliance. “We are excited […] Read More
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 […] Read More
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, […] Read More
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 […] Read More
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 […] Read More
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 […] Read More
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 […] Read More
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 […] Read More