Humanitarian Airlift

[LJDRVR]

I've really enjoyed my career so far, and been fortunate enough to have been exposed to a variety of international/over-water operations. I want to give something to people in terms of being to help improve people's quality of life through use of my aviation skills.

That having been said, I am attempting to educate myself on civilian humanitarian airlift and exactly how that works. Anybody on the board here have any experience with UN/Red Cross or any other humanitarian airlift? Drop me a line, I'd like to pick your brain.

 

[seethru]

I've been involved with Angel Flight for the past few years. It has been a great opportunity to help people connect with their needed treatment centers/needs.

It's also a great way to give meaning to your flights. I've met some great people, who are going through the toughest struggles of their lives, and I do get some inspiration from them.

Here's their website: http://www.angelflight.org/

They are pretty well organized and are always looking for pilots.

Clear skies.

Greg

 

[AA717driver]

LJDRVR--You might want to check on pprune.org. They are the international version of this board. I'm sure someone on there has done the type of flying you are looking at.

Also try AvCanada.ca same deal. Those crazy Cannucks are all over the world! Good luck.TC

 

[pullmyfinger]

Airserve

Also...airserve is hiring right now http://www.airserv.org

Interests me as well.

 

[LJDRVR]

Thanks to everyone for the info so far!

Seethru: Excellent organization. I did a little volunteer work for Airlifeline when I was stationed near Sacremento.

AA717driver: Thanks for the advice. I've tried PPRUNE before, I tend not to get any responses over there. ("Facist yankee" with less than 2,000 posts.) Sorry things aren't looking good tonight for your candidate.

Pullmyfinger: Airserv looks interesting, but I'm looking for something to do ad-hoc while currently employed. (This country has an excess of grain, an excess of pilots and an excess of 3-6,000 NM range aircraft with cargo doors, I'm researching ways to put these things together and maybe feed some people in the offing.)

Keep the responses coming!

 

[Dizel8]

LJDRVR,

If you come up with something, let us know, I would certainly be interested in helping out.

 

[metrodriver]

lrjt, if you can get your hands on an aircraft, and money for fuel and other expenses you can fly a lot of that grain to Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, Grand Cayman. All victims of hurricane Ivan and except for the last one not much in the way of relief has gone there yet. No housing (not even tents), no running water, no electricity, no food (crops are destroyed), no money.

 

[trainer8]

LJDRVR:

Unless you have great benefits with your carrier, it will be difficult for you to do something "ad hoc."

A little background: Most humanitarian aviation operators break down into two areas, NPOs and NGOs.

NPOs, or Non-Profit Organizations operate at minimal cost to the passenger/charterer, so don't plan on getting paid much. Also, most NPO avaition organizations are para-church or missionary aviation oriented. Most require donor support for your pay, i.e., you may have to raise it. All want a significant commitment from you operationally and spiritually. I don't know where are on that issue, but here are a few links:

1. Mission Aviation Fellowship- http://www.maf.org. MAF is the world's largest missionary aviation organization.

2. JAARS - http://www.jaars.org/aviation04/avia_home.shtml. Jaars (Jungle Aviation And Radio Service) is a transportation division Wycliffe Bible Translators. Their name is self explanatory.

3. AIM-Air - http://www.aimair.org - Christian relief and development/Missionary Aviation organization located in Nairobi, Kenya. A division of Africa Inland Mission, Int'l. Africa's oldest missionary organization.

4. Samaritan's Purse - http://www.samaritanspurse.org - Operated by Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son. Relief and development, world wide. AIM-AIR and SP work together in East and Central Africa.

NGO's

Most noted is the UN. They have several branches like UNICEF, UN World Food Program, etc. I belief they contract with operators all over the world who have their own "121" or "135" operations. Perhaps some other guys on this forum who have flown for the UN could comment. I think the UN does have it's own aviation department. Doesn't sound like you could volunteer there.

AIR Serve: http://www.airserve.org - Arguably the most popular humanitarian aviation operation in the world. They train you and they pay you.

Anyway, my point again is, I don't believe they will let you just come in and fly their aircraft without some kind of commitment (time-contract, etc.)

Angel flights are great if you want to do something state-side. Other than that, for what you are talking about, I can't think of much more.

Oh, I flew for NPO #3 for a total of three years (not at one time)on the African Continent. Some of the most rewarding experiences I HAVE EVER HAD came during those years. And the flying was spectacular.

T8

 

[ThomasR]

.........

Thanks to everyone for the info so far!...........

 

[LJDRVR]

Folks, again thank you all very much for the information.

Trainer8- Sounds interesting. what I'm envisioning is a CONUS based Large-aricraft NPO that provides ad hoc humanitarian charter airlift, along with it's own grain procurement and delivery mechanism. I'm not looking to make a living or any money at all, I'd just like to fly some trips on my days off. (I used to fly a lot of air ambulance and organ transplant work as a 135 guy, I miss that feeling of satifaction.)


Before I look at aircraft types, I need to educate myself on several issues

• Where is the grain now?
• How do we get it?
• Where does it need to go?
• Who do we give it to?

The aviation part of it is simple. I've got several options I'm looking at. Choosing a specific one wil be easier once the logistics and fund raising portions are defined.

Dizel8. How ironic that a "Doug" pilot would be interested. Thanks for the offer. I'll drop you a PM.

 

[seethru]

OK, I'm confused now (probably past my bedtime).

Grain? I mean, I know what grain is. At least I think I do.

Am I missing something here, or is there another meaning for that word (other than a product to make into great beer)?

Thanks.

Greg

 

[Rick1128]

Ngo

Actually the UN is considered a Government Organization not an NGO. To my knowledge the UN does not have its own flight department. I know it was discussed about 10 years ago, but I have not heard anything of it since then.

The UN and most NGOs have stiff pilot requirements at present. They are flying in areas that are at the very least very under developed. I am presently flying a Lear 35 on an UN contract in Afghanistan. I too enjoy the feeling of satisfaction in helping others.

Air Serv is hiring, but I have heard some issues within their pilot ranks about how different groups of pilots are paid and the fact that Air Serv is operating commercial operations and not passing some of the benefits on to their pilots.

To work in these conditions, one must be able to get totally along with everyone. And be so flexible that limp linguini looks stiff.

 

[trainer8]

Rick1128 is correct. For some reason, I put them under the NGO catagory, which is incorrect. My experience with them was in East and Central Africa, most recently
'rubbing shoulders with the UNHCR and UNWFP. At that time, it appeared that they were contracting aviation services using anything from Caravans, Beech 1900's, to using IL-76's to make food drops.

The IL-76 is their heavy iron and they were using Russian crews. (makes sense)

 

[Frozen Ronin]

Has anyone out there worked for Air Serve? Just had a talk with the soon to be new chief pilot here in Anchorage. Not much pay, but is seemed interesting. Not interesting enough to go where bullets fly frequently without doing a little research, first. Any comments?

 

[Fearless Tower]

lrjt, if you can get your hands on an aircraft, and money for fuel and other expenses you can fly a lot of that grain to Haiti, Jamaica, Grenada, Grand Cayman. All victims of hurricane Ivan and except for the last one not much in the way of relief has gone there yet. No housing (not even tents), no running water, no electricity, no food (crops are destroyed), no money.

Shipping grain to the Caribbean in airplanes??? Who's idea is that? I've done the grain trade in the Merchant Marine and since virtually all of the donated US grain basically comes from the Gulf of Mexico region which is only a day or two at the most away from the ports mentioned, there is no possible way it could be anything but a financial disaster to use planes for such a task.

 

[jdlilfan]

Has anyone out there worked for Air Serve? Just had a talk with the soon to be new chief pilot here in Anchorage. Not much pay, but is seemed interesting. Not interesting enough to go where bullets fly frequently without doing a little research, first. Any comments?

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=79043

 

[TurboS7]

The idea is wonderful and I have had the same vision for years. The problem is to implement it. I have had more success operatiing on a smaller scale. Big airplanes equals big work big job. Thinking that you could do something on your days off will not cut it, it will totally engulf you. Here are some things that I have done which really were neat. When I had the Part 135 I flew (part 91) missionaries to and from South America. I flew Bibles down, medical supplies etc. I was able to get help with the local churches for donations and fuel money. Our company did one trip a month and the pilots bid on it. They gave their time for free, and I think all the pilots really enjoyed their trips.
On a more recent scale. I fly for a Part 121 carrier. We had a flight going to Africa. I was able to get a bunch of stuff for the orpanages, and a local school. I bought soccar balls by the dozens, sent a couple of hundred baseballs( all gathered from little league fields over the year) dolls, and all kind of little knick, naks. I got them all to Miami and we sent them all over. You can't get too big as all this stuff was going in "under the radar". You get stuff too big and all the authorities have their hands out in more ways than you can imagine. I was able to go on a later Africa flight and help distribute all the stuff I had gotten together. This included being able to get a bunch of the soccar balls up to the refugee camps in the Darfur region. (they may be starving but they can pass the time playing soccar now) The personal involvement is very gratifying, but it is a lot of work. If you feel the way you do and you are young Mission Aviation has a program for airline pilots in Afganistan for short term work 1 to 2 months at a time. They are really short on qualified turbine pilots. If you want hardcore then Airserve is the way to go, they will burn you out and send you home wet sore and satified.