AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - December 2019 - 6

PRESIDENT'S POSITION

Make it count

BY MARK BAKER
President and CEO

Put your skills to use and give back
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT ONCE SAID, "Today is the oldest you've ever been, and the youngest you'll ever be."
Sometimes I cringe when I hear that, as it's a sharp
reminder of how quickly time flies. By December, 2019
has come and gone. Marketing companies are preparing for major sales, Christmas movies are on our TVs,
and every other online ad is persuading us to buy the
latest gadgets and toys. But amid the frenzy, we should
also remember that December is about self-reflection
and giving back. And while we pilots like our toys, we
also put them to good use. General aviation gives back
to communities every day, and often under the radar.
You might be surprised to learn that you're in a more
exclusive club than you may have originally thought.
Fewer than 1 percent of the world's population are
pilots, leaving us with a skill set not many possess-a
skill set that we can use to make a difference for the
public good.

GA is a lifeline for emergency medical transports,
it's a savior when natural disasters strike, and it's a
gateway to success for today's youth.

AOPA President
MARK BAKER met
with Bahamian
officials after
Hurricane Dorian
to help expedite
flights carrying
relief supplies.

Unfortunately, GA tends to get a bad rap-from an
often-panicked news media, power-hungry public officials, or energized but misinformed environmentalists.
Many are blind to the value that GA and its treasured
airports bring to people, thousands of local communities, and the overall economy. GA is more than the hobby
for the wealthy it's often portrayed as-it's a lifeline for
emergency medical transports, it's a savior when natural disasters strike, and it's a gateway to success for
today's youth. As pilots, we all love to fly, so in the spirit
of the holiday season, I encourage you to go wheels up
for a good cause.
There's never been a better time to get involved. The
passage of the 2018 FAA reauthorization bill was a huge
win for volunteer pilots, and something AOPA has advocated for years. Under the legislation, volunteer pilots
conducting medical transports and charitable flights are
protected beyond the limits of their insurance coverage,
making liability concerns a nonissue.
Public-benefit flights by organizations such as Angel
Flight groups and Patient AirLift Services (PALS) are
just a few of the many ways GA pays it forward. PALS

6 | AOPA PILOT December 2019

connects patients with the aviation community and
gives critical support to those in need of life-saving
treatment. The nonprofit also assists military personnel and their families with free flights to help with the
recovery and rehabilitation of wounded vets. To date,
PALS has flown more than 4.6 million passenger miles
helping those seeking medical care. Other groups such
as Angel Flight and Wings of Mercy rely on pilots to
fly trips and help alleviate the financial burden many
patients and their families face (see "A Purpose to Being
a Pilot," p. 58). You'll find that a lot of FBOs waive fees
for pilots volunteering for these organizations.
Sometimes it's our four-legged furry friends that
need a lift. Combining a love of flying with a K-9 co-pilot
sounds like something most of us can get on board with,
not to mention the tax write-off is also a nice incentive.
Many good Samaritan pilots donate their airplane, fuel,
and time to help rescue animals in need. Pilots N Paws
is a well-known rescue group among the aviation community, with some 5,000 pilots involved in transporting
at-risk animals and saving lives.
There is so much goodwill surrounding GA, but it
doesn't always get the spotlight it deserves, and that's
the very reason AOPA exists. Our mission is to protect
the uniquely American freedom to fly and show others
the value of that liberty.
During my time as president of AOPA, I've had the
opportunity to witness the immense generosity of our
aviation community. We've dealt with many devastating
natural disasters and, along with paramedics, firefighters, and other heroes, it's usually pilots who are among
the first responders-volunteering their time and aircraft to aid in relief. The coordinated effort of the GA
community, and the hundreds of volunteers lending
helping hands never ceases to amaze me. In many cases,
aircraft are the only means to deploy resources in the
aftermath of natural disasters, and that's one of the reasons we work so hard to keep our airports open-they
truly are a lifeline for these communities.
Yes, we can offer our aircraft, and we can open our
wallets, but it's time that will always be our most valuable asset. So, as a New Year's resolution, or just as a
personal goal, I encourage everyone to donate your time
and expertise. Go wheels up, give back to those in need,
and most important-make it count.
AOPA
EMAIL mark@aopa.org

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - December 2019

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