Pilots with a Purpose: How to Make a Difference Using Your Talents, Aviation Skills & Compassion

Written by Kristinia Luke, Executive Director and Barbara Sica, Outreach and Development ~ Air Care Alliance (ACA)

When Orville and Wilber Wright achieved the first successful powered, controlled heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1903, little did they know that their achievement would be the foundation for ushering in the age of aviation—especially for powered flights.

In 2024 alone, there were more than 850,000 certified pilots in the United States with 80% participating in general aviation. And based on recent studies, there is a resurgence of interest in general aviation. Many aviation-related organizations are creating programs to support this increase in interest such as AOPA Foundation that has established the You Can Fly Program to encourage more involvement in becoming a pilot.

If you are like most pilots, you remember vividly the first time you took the controls. An immediate feeling of thrill, freedom, accomplishment and the pure joy of flight overcame you within that moment. Over time, those magical moments may fade into routines of cross-country practice, airport-diner runs, cloud chasing, and leaf-peeping excursions. But for thousands of pilots nationwide, using their talents, compassion and altruism to usher in the next chapter in aviation brings meaning beyond miles: becoming a volunteer pilot and participating in Public Benefit Flying (PBF).

Bringing Hope to Those in Need (Four-legged friends included)

Imagine being a cancer patient in Northern Maine and you must travel to Boston, Mass. every week for six months to receive specialized care. After processing your diagnosis, you may ask yourself, “How will you get there?”  Your car is fine for errands around town but not reliable for long distances, which could be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. You have been out of work due to your illness and are struggling to even pay for gas for around-town errands, no less, you lack the funds to pay for gas for long distances, or to purchase a ticket to travel via plane or train. Maybe your illness limits you from traveling for long periods of time. This is what many patients face when they are diagnosed with an illness, especially a rare condition that requires regular specialized medical care which can be hundreds or even thousands of miles away. For many patients, traveling for this care is unattainable. This is where volunteer pilots “fly in” and provide the free transportation these patients need to access the care they need for more favorable outcomes during their healthcare journeys.

Not only does the compassion of volunteer pilots assist patients and families, but they also work with animal rescue groups. Volunteer pilot organizations like Pilots N Paws, No Dogs Left Behind, and Turtles Fly Too connect volunteer pilots with rescue groups to fly animals, often from overcrowded shelters to adoptive homes or better-resourced areas, saving lives through “freedom flights” and fulfilling mission needs for both animals and pilots. These groups coordinate logistics, ensuring animals get to safety while providing fulfilling volunteer opportunities for pilots seeking to build flight hours and give back. 

Volunteer pilots also assist with transporting organ for transplants, service animals, supplies during times of crisis, and for many other humanitarian reasons.

What does it feel like to be a volunteer pilot:

• Deeply Fulfilling: Pilots describe it as the most rewarding experience, providing purpose beyond typical flying, turning routine flights into life-changing missions. Whether you can fly one mission a year or even once a month, your talents and compassion make a difference in the lives of those you fly, their families and communities.
• Emotional Connection: You connect with people (and animals) facing serious challenges, hearing their stories and witnessing their journeys, which can be emotionally impactful but also inspiring. Many pilots adopt patients and families requesting to be their “personal VPO pilot.”
• New Perspectives: It takes you to places and situations you wouldn't otherwise encounter, offering new challenges and broadening your pilot skills while maintaining currency.

In what types of missions do volunteer pilots participate:

• Non-Ambulatory Medical Transport: Flying patients (children, adults, infants) to specialized care, often when ground transport is too difficult or costly. Organizations involved in the volunteer-pilot organization nonprofit sector include Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, Angel Flight NE, Angel Flight West and SkyHope.
• Animal Rescue: Transporting rescued animals (sometimes alongside medical patients) providing positive outcomes. With more rescue groups becoming overwhelmed with animals needing to be relocated for adoption or rehabilitation, general-aviation volunteer pilots are playing a critical role in assisting to transport these animals hundreds or thousands of miles for better living opportunities.
• Disaster Relief: Delivering emergency supplies, food, water, or personnel during natural disasters. GA planes can easily land and depart from small municipal airports enabling supplies to reach those in need quickly and efficiently.
• Conservation: Supporting environmental efforts through aerial observation and transport for organizations like Light Hawk.
• Education: Flying kids for introductory flights through programs like Young Eagles.
• Humanitarian / Emotional Support:  Bringing joy and hope through the wonder of flight to individuals who have a serious illness or disability, are underserved, or facing other serious adversity, like Above the Clouds.

Throughout the course of aviation history, pilots and organizations have used general aviation aircraft to help those in need and to serve their communities. In most cases these were ad-hoc efforts, where pilots helped a neighbor in a small town get to a medical appointment, volunteered to use an airplane to search for lost people, ferried workers to help after natural disasters, etc. Few of these efforts were conducted through groups formed for the purpose, with the notable exception of the Civil Air Patrol (plus a few others). And most of the “official” work was performed by the military, commercial charter companies, and commercial or not-for-profit air ambulance and similar providers.

In the 1980’s several new volunteer-based nonprofit organizations formed, many with the mission of facilitating patient and medical transport flights for those who could not afford them or were not near airports served by airlines. Others supported flights serving environmental or conservation needs, or introductory flights for youth.

The Birth of Air Care Alliance (ACA)

In 1990, Air Care Alliance Founder Bill Worden, a pilot and board member of Angel Flight of California (now called Angel Flight West), decided it would be a good idea to have a convocation for leaders of volunteer pilot organizations (VPOs). He worked closely with Patricia Weil of the communications division of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), to schedule a conference bringing VPO directors together and asked ACA Co-Founder Rol Murrow of the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps to help organize it.

About 15 of the VPO delegates volunteered to form a steering committee, which was invited by AOPA President Phil Boyer to meet the following Spring in AOPA’s board room. The committee developed a mission statement and named the group. They also drafted a set of objectives. Soon after, Air Care Alliance was incorporated and attained federal nonprofit status as a 501(c)(3)tax-exempt status. At the next national conference, now called AIR CARE Conference, the member groups elected directors and officers were designated.

Since its founding more than 30 years ago,ACA represents a nationwide network of volunteer pilot groups that deliver impactful and inspiring service through the power of aviation. ACA encourages volunteerism among pilots, helps patients access the free air transportation they need, and ensures that charitable aviation remains a viable resource to those who need it most. For more than three decades, ACA has made great strides for the world of charitable aviation. Air Care Alliance has led the way as a national voice helping to reduce legislative and regulatory barriers to public-benefit flying. By working directly with members of Congress and other aviation advocacy groups such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), ACA has created a robust network of vetted VPOs who operate safely and legally in the public-benefit flying space. From patient transport to animal rescue, from disaster relief to youth inspiration—there’s a VPO waiting for your help.

The VPOs that ACA work closely with coordinate more than 40,000 humanitarian missions annually with the assistance of more than 15,000 volunteer pilots who donate their planes, fuel, time, talents and most of all, unwavering compassion. These amazing groups and individuals are changing lives in the air and on the ground. With the power of aviation and volunteerism, distance is a hurdle not to be faced for patients and others needing assistance. Those who live in rural locations aren’t limited to access of specialized care and treatment.

Feed Your Passion, Fly to Help Others

Public-benefit flying is exactly what it sounds like—flying to help others. Whether it’s transporting a cancer patient to a specialized treatment center, relocating a rescued dog to a forever home, flying medical supplies into disaster zones, or supporting environmental research, pilots are using their skills and aircraft for incredibly good every day across the entire country.

Volunteer missions take pilots to places they might never otherwise visit—rural airports, busy class Bravo hubs, or even low-altitude environmental surveys. Along the way, they sharpen their skills, meet extraordinary people, and rediscover why they fell in love with aviation in the first place. Many pilots say that “Aviation enriches the soul, captures and cultivates the imagination” and couple that with the ability to help others—what an amazing accomplishment!

And let’s face it: your aircraft needs to fly. As we all know, aircraft were not built to stay on the ground. Why not fly it for good? If you’ve ever asked, “What’s next?” after your $100 hamburger run and/or multiple scenic flights for family and friends, your answer may be to use your airplane and/or your skills to help someone in need. You earned your wings, now it’s time to use them to lift others. Join the movement today and discover just how meaningful flying can be.

Volunteer Pilot Qualifications

Pilot criteria vary depending on the organization and kind of flights made. Typically, Volunteer Pilot Organizations (VPOs) will require you to have a Private Pilot License at minimum, and access to an aircraft. Minimum flight time and other requirements are set by each VPO. Most will require a minimum of 250hrs PIC time.

When you complete a volunteer application on the Air Care Alliance website, we'll help narrow down the VPOs that are the best match for you.

How long are the flights?

Flight profiles will differ depending on what type of public benefit flying you’re doing.

Typically, flight legs to transport passengers, animals or precious cargo will be about 200-300 nautical miles. (Longer flights are generally linked with other pilots or organizations).

Environmental flights, experience flights for youth, or search and rescue flights are typically shorter, local flights. In all cases, the flights you choose to make are completely up to you, so you can choose what makes sense for you and your aircraft.

What kind of passengers can I expect to fly?

Generally, passengers who fly with Volunteer Pilot Organizations (VPOS) need to be ambulatory and medically stable. Most VPOs will require a financial need or other compelling reason for the flight.

VPOs arrange travel for patients with a variety of medical conditions who require care not available where they live. Some examples include:

• Specialized surgery or treatment
• Pre-Transplant or Post-Transplant appointments
• Diagnosis/treatment of a rare condition
• Pediatric specialties
• Clinical trials
• A second opinion

Many VPOs also arrange flights for other compelling reasons including individuals who need to visit or be a caregiver for a critically ill family member, survivors of domestic violence, veterans in need of supportive services, or for children and adults to attend camps for special needs.

Do I need access to an aircraft?

Yes. In most cases, you will need to have access to an aircraft. Whether that means you own it, rent it or borrow a friend’s, most Volunteer Pilot Organizations do not provide an aircraft for you to fly.  The only exception is if the VPO holds a Part 135 air taxi certificate and the pilot is on the volunteer pilot organization’s Part 135 certificate. An aircraft owned by a VPO cannot be flown by volunteer pilots under Part 91.

Can I be reimbursed for flight costs?

Generally, no, unless your organization has an exemption from the FAA and you and your organization fully comply with its requirements.

Can I deduct my flight expenses on my taxes?

Yes. FAA still considers it to be compensation but has stated that it supports “truly humanitarian efforts” and will generally not treat charitable deductions related to public benefit flights as compensation or hire for the purposes of enforcing FAR 61.113 or Part 135.

What about liability?

Flights made for volunteer pilot organizations have no greater liability than when flying a friend or neighbor. Pilots are generally required to have liability insurance and passengers will sign liability waivers prior to each flight. Additionally, the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 contains a provision that protects volunteer pilots who conduct flights on behalf of nonprofit organizations against liability more than their insurance coverage.

What’s the process after I apply to volunteer?

• At the end of the application, you’ll be presented with a list of qualified ACA organizations to choose from, ranked by best match based on geography and pilot qualifications.
• You choose which organization(s) to send the application to by checking the box next to each chosen org. (You can apply to as many as you like with one application)
• Submit! The application will be sent to the organization(s) that you choose.
• Organizations follow up with you directly  

Ready, Set, Go!

If you want to make a difference in the lives of those in need, sign up today!  There is likely an ACA VPO in your geographic region who desperately needs your skills and experience. To learn more about Air Care Alliance (ACA), visit the organization’s website at www.aircarealliance.org. So, you want to volunteer, then start today by filling out an application – https://vpoids.aircarealliance.org/join.

The Power of Volunteer Pilots & General Aviation