General Aviation on a Mission: Midwest Aviation Serves Humanitarian and Animal Rescue Roles

By Carmelo Turdo

As the first day of spring approaches, the Midwest Aviation community is looking forward to the warm weather days ahead. While most general aviation pilots reduce their flying during the winter months, some individuals and organizations continue to use their talent and resources to serve others all year-round under strict guidelines and conservative personal minimums. Here we highlight two examples of that spirit of service from our recent airport visits.

Spirit of St. Louis Airport - Wings of Hope    

       

Wings of Hope is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization serving those in need around the world for over sixty years. The mission of Wings of Hope is "Changing and Saving Lives Through the Power of Aviation." That mission is accomplished directly through Global Humanitarian Programs and the U.S. Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program. Several MAT flights per week transport ambulatory patients with chronic medical conditions for treatment at specialty medical centers in 26 states within 800 miles from their St. Louis facility. Here we feature one of the MAT Piper Seneca aircraft ready for the next mission.

  

The current Wings of Hope Spring Raffle Aircraft is Cessna 206, N206KY, the first MAT mission aircraft for the organization beginning in 2003.This well-maintained fleet aircraft offers excellent useful load and bush flying capabilities in addition to STOL and factory seaplane kits. Tickets are on sale for this grand prize and two other valuable prizes as well. 

  

The Aero Experience thanks Wings of Hope for their humanitarian aviation service, and we encourage everyone to support their mission now and in the coming year. We also send our best wishes to outgoing Wings of Hope Board Chairman David Agee following last week's Board meeting and congratulations to the new Chairman, Patrick Bowen.

Creve Coeur Airport - Pilots N Paws Rescue Mission

General Aviation can play a valuable role in transporting our furry friends to their new foster or forever homes located in other states across the country. Here we feature our second Pilots N Paws Rescue mission in recent weeks, this time featuring our friends Jamie Gotto and Jill Rempala flying in Jamie's Mooney M20K.

The Aero Experience is pleased to include this report from Jamie and Jill describing their mission:

Sammy, the Great Dane pup, was a stray on the streets of North Little Rock. He was being temporarily fostered while returning to health by Little Rock Animal Village volunteers, but he needed to be transported to Just Giants Rescue on the Illinois/Wisconsin border for the next chapter of his life. Rescue groups and pilots connected on PilotsNPaws.org and the journey was planned.

On Saturday, March 14, St Louis local pilots Jamie and Jill flew out of Creve Coeur Airport (1H0) to North Little Rock following their Women in Aviation St Louis - Women with Wings board meeting. 

They met Sammy at the FBO and were bowled over by his size and the amount of love he insisted on sharing with everyone he met. Sammy jumped in the plane and laid down in the backseat for the entire flight to St. Louis Regional Airport (KALN). There he took a break, then continued his journey with Joliet, IL pilot, Mike, where he continued to re-charge his batteries by napping most of the way. (Photos below courtesy of Jill Rempala).

Now that he’s safely arrived, Sammy is settling in, stretching those long puppy legs, and learning what life as a loved giant is all about.

Check out The Aero Experience coverage of the recent Pilots N Paws mission taking off from St. Louis Regional Airport on February 27.