Public Benefit Flying Awards

Nomination period:  March 1 - May 31

Nomination Guidelines

About the Awards:

The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) and the Air Care Alliance (ACA) created The Public Benefit Flying Awards a set of national awards designed to recognize the significant contributions to the Nation of volunteer-based Public Benefit Flying and the outstanding work of the individuals and organizations engaged in this humanitarian activity.  Since 2003 dozens of awards have been presented at the celebratory "Above and Beyond" awards ceremony, held each fall in the United States Capitol.

The awards are divided into five categories:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Awarded for performance that exceeds expectations and distinguishes nominee volunteers or their effort from others. Consider amount and nature of effort, commitment, sacrifice, and impact on clients, organization, and community.

Distinguished Volunteer
    Awarded for performance that exceeds expectations and distinguishes non-pilot volunteers or their effort from others. Consider amount and nature of effort, commitment, sacrifice, and impact on clients, organization, and community.

Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
     Awarded for outstanding contribution that advances the state-of-the-art, or raises the standard of service for public benefit flying. Consider the size, complexity, and unusual value of the achievement and its positive impact on public benefit flying.

Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award
   Awarded for collaboration among individuals and/or organizations in order to complete a mission beyond the scope and resources of any one public benefit flying organization. Consider the size, complexity, and unusual value of the collaboration and its positive impact on public benefit flying.

Champion of Public Benefit Flying
   Awarded for extraordinary support and contributing effort providing fair winds beneath the wings of public benefit flying organizations. Consider the nature and scope of the support itself and/or its impact on encouraging others to provide the necessary lift for public benefit flying.

PREVIOUS WINNERS LIST

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NAA AND AIR CARE ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE RECIPIENTS OF
2009 PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING AWARDS

Washington, DC, July 7, 2009 -- The National Aeronautic Association, in partnership with the Air Care Alliance, a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2009 National Public Benefit Flying Awards. 

This year’s recipients are:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot – Mack Secord, Angel Flight of Georgia
For more than 23 years of volunteer service to countless families in need of lifesaving medical care.  Mack Secord is one of the original 15 pilots with Angel Flight of Georgia.  He has flown hundreds of missions to serve families in need of lifesaving medical care.  Secord has his feet firmly planted on the ground until Angel Flight calls and he heads for the skies to make hope soar for needy families.

Distinguished Volunteer – Robert J. Munley, Wings of Mercy (Michigan)
For selflessly coordinating and flying missions for those in need in Eastern Michigan.  Bob Munley''''s love of aviation goes beyond his mere passion for flying.  In 1996 he became one of the founding volunteers of Wings of Mercy, East Michigan, a Volunteer Pilot Organization that flies need medical patients free of charge to medical centers in Eastern Michigan.  Munley has often worked 80 hour weeks and has been on the telephone around the clock as a volunteer pilot, Board member, Treasurer and Mission Coordinator for Wings of Mercy East Michigan.  He typifies the volunteer spirit of this country and has changed scores of lives with his "second calling."

Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying – Corporate Angel Network
For representing the best of the aviation industry by bringing together corporate America as a lifeline for citizens battling cancer.  It began in 1981 with a dream:  Use empty seats on corporate aircraft making routine trips to transport cancer patients to treatment centers nationwide.  The dream became reality and the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) began arranging free air transportation for cancer patients needing to travel to receive treatment. With more than 500 corporate participants contributing 3,000 flights annually, CAN has marked more than three decades as an aviation lifeline that eases the physical discomfort, emotional stress and financial burden of travel for cancer patients nationwide.

These prestigious awards will be presented at the special “Above and Beyond” Awards Ceremony, at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2009, in the Lyndon B. Johnson room of the U.S. Capitol.
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