The Air Care Alliance (ACA), a community of humanitarian flying organizations, and the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians, are pleased to announce a partnership to promote general aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service
IFFR and ACA partnered to create a presentation available to Rotary Clubs, and other organizations, to publicize the availability of free air transportation for non-emergency medical and other compelling needs. In addition, the presentation highlights the opportunities for Rotarian and non-Rotarian pilots, as well as non-pilots interested in aviation, to get involved with IFFR and other general aviation organizations in their communities.
“This partnership with ACA highlights service opportunities for IFFR members and simultaneously helps real people in need access health and hope through aviation. It spreads the word through Rotary Clubs about the benefits of fellowship and service provided to members of the IFFR.” said Alan Dias, of the IFFR Membership Committee for the Americas.
All across the U.S. volunteer pilots provide free flights to patients in need of accessing distant healthcare and for other compelling needs, an activity commonly known as “public benefit flying”. However, free flights to medical care is a little known resource. For the non-profit organizations that compose the Air Care Alliance and arrange the flights, raising awareness of their services is a constant and costly challenge requiring duplicative efforts and significant resources.
The presentation, created by ACA and the IFFR, promotes public benefit flying on a national level through broad-reach organizations, such as Rotary. The aim is to leverage the established networks and service mindset of such organizations to help spread awareness to those in need and recruit more pilot volunteers. The outreach efforts will kick off with presentations at Rotary meetings March 2nd in Braintree, MA and March 14th in Kirkland, WA.
“ACA is known as the ‘Voice of Public Benefit Flying’,” said Mark Hanson, Vice President of the Air Care Alliance. “This partnership helps to amplify that voice by developing strategic partnerships on a national level. This allows more people to learn about the services ACA members provide and encourages more pilots to use their skills for good.”
The presentations, developed by ACA in collaboration with the IFFR, are part of ACA’s ongoing efforts to promote, support and represent public benefit flying and volunteer pilots. For more information about the presentation and to learn more about IFFR contact Alan Dias (aland@angelflightwest.org) West of the Mississippi or Mark Hanson (m.hanson@aircarealliance.org) East of the Mississippi.
About Air Care Alliance
Air Care Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public service organization supporting the work of volunteer-based charitable organizations whose members fly to help others. ACA’s mission is to promote, support, and represent public benefit flying through communication and cooperation among organizations facilitating flights for health, compassion, and community service. ACA represents over 50 volunteer pilot organizations that form a vibrant ecosystem of service through aviation. ACA encourages volunteerism among pilots and ensures that charitable aviation remains a viable resource to those who need it most. To learn more visit aircarealliance.org.
About the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians
The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR) is a worldwide group of Rotarians dedicated to promoting Rotary and general aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service. IFFR operates under Rotary International policy, whose core motto is “service above self”.
IFFR is divided into three Regions – the Americas, Europe/Africa, and Australia/Asia. Members volunteer their time and resources to fly missions for many volunteer pilot organizations. In the Americas (www.ifframericas.org) IFFR fits well with the Air Care Alliance (ACA) and supports its mission.