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Previous PBF Award Recipients

 

Public Benefit Flying Awards Previous Winners
 
2010

 

  • Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
    Gene Schmidt, Bahamas Habitat
  • Distinguished Volunteer
    Justin Ogden, Captain, Civil Air Patrol, Southwest Region, Arizona Wing
  • Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying
    Bahamas Habitat
  • Teamwork Award
    All Volunteer Pilots and other Volunteers Conducting Flights in Support of the   Haitian Relief Efforts

2009

 

• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Mack Secord, Angel Flight of Georgia
• Distinguished Volunteer
     Robert J. Munley, Wings of Mercy (Michigan)
• Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
     Corporate Angel Network

2008

• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Bruce Bomberg
• Distinguished Volunteer
     Larry Gabriel
• Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
     Lt. Col. Cynthia Ryan
• Teamwork Award
     GivingFlite
     Alabama Air National Guard
     Volunteers Supporting Dreams on Wings
• Champion of Public Benefit Flying
    Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

2007
• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Chuck Schroll
• Distinguished Volunteer
     Guy Loughridge
• Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
     Peter J. Vanden Bosch
     Terrence Trapnell
• Teamwork Award
     Wings of Hope
     Fundacion AeroAmazonia

2006
• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Ted Ruscitti
• Distinguished Volunteer
     Jubel Caldwell
• Outstanding Achievement in Advancement of Public Benefit Flying
     All Volunteers and Organizations Flying Relief Missions following Hurricanes Katrina      and Rita
• Team Award
     Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps and
     Wings of Hope
• Teamwork Award
     Thomas H. Holcom
• Champion of Public Benefit Flying
     Continental Airlines
     The Nation''''s Air Traffic Controllers

2005
• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Bill Boulton
• Distinguished Volunteer
     Stephan Fopeano
• Outstanding Achievement in Support of Public Benefit Flying
     Angel Flight West, Inc. and
     LightHawk
• Public Benefit Flying Team Award
     Mission Coordinators:  Bernadette Darnell, Brette Emes, Mary Heath, Kevin Sell,
     Ed Sells, Susan Sweeney, John Tinnin and Rick Wachstein. 
• Champion of Public Benefit Flying
     Alaska Airlines

2004
• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot
     Robert Cleaves
• Distinguished Volunteer
     Wanda Whitsitt
• Outstanding Achievement in Support of Public Benefit Flying
     Wings of Hope (organization)
     J. Craig Honaman (individual)
• Public Benefit Flying Team Award
     Angel Flight America Mission Coordinators
• Champion of Public Benefit Flying
     America West Airlines

2003
• Distinguished Flying Volunteer:
     David Altman,  PA
• Distinguished Volunteer:
     Kevin Sell, PA
• Outstanding Achievement in Support of Public Benefit Flying
     Individual: Tom Goodwin, CA
     Organization: Mercy Med+Flight, TX
• Public Benefit Flying Team Award
     Angel Flight of Oklahoma, Volunteer Pilots Association, and all other  groups cooperating to fly relief missions following Sept. 11, 2001
• Champion of Public Benefit Flying
     Civil Air Patrol

 

 

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VOLUNTEERS AND THEIR ORGANIZATIONS HONORED WITH 2012 NATIONAL PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING AWARDS

Washington, DC, July 9, 2012 — 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 2012 National Public Benefit Flying Awards.
     This year’s recipients in each award category are:

Distinguished Volunteer Pilots –
Susan Lapis, SouthWings for her enormous contributions using her aerial aviation skills to protect the natural heritage, communities and ecosystems of the Southeast.

Del Reiff, Wings of Hope for his decades of dedicated effort and flying over 3,900 hours to solve the causes of poverty and isolation and to serve mankind on several continents from “war torn” Congo to the Amazon Jungles.

Distinguished Volunteers –
Debi Boies, Pilots N Paws for creating a national organization that has greatly contributed to transporting rescue animals from kill shelters to forever homes.

Larry Scheffler, Miracle Flights For Kids for his outstanding contributions to improve the quality of community life for sick children across America and beyond.

Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying –
Bob Showalter and Showalter Flying Services, for committed support of public benefit flying organizations in times of national and international crisis, such as relief work following the Haitian earthquake and Hurricane Irene.

Champion of Public Benefit Flying –
Lightspeed Aviation Foundation, In recognition of Lightspeed’s significant contribution by creating a support system enhancing groups involved in public benefit flying.

     “I am very proud of the recipients of the 2012 Public Benefit Flying Awards,” said NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney.  “All of the nominations were worthy, but the list of our honorees demonstrates again the diversity of public benefit flying in America and the many different people who benefit from it.”
Air Care Alliance Chairman Rol Murrow notes, “These recipients are being recognized for their own contributions and also because they serve as examples of all those others who work to fly patients for care, serve in times of emergencies, provide educational flights for youth, support environmental causes, help our veterans, and provide help in many other ways to those in need.  We truly enjoy working with NAA to honor these worthy individuals and groups.”
     Members of the 2012 PBF Selection Committee were Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA (Chairman of the Selection Committee); Linda Daschle, LHD and Associates; Steve Champness, President, Aero Club of Atlanta; Paula Hochstetler, President, Airport Consultants Council; and Lindy Kirkland, Judy Benjamin, and Rick Durden of the Air Care Alliance.

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SPECIAL OLYMPICS AIRLIFT VOLUNTEERS AMONG THOSE
HONORED WITH 2011 PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING AWARDS
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 2011 National Public Benefit Flying Awards. 
This year’s recipients are:
• Distinguished Volunteer Pilot – Dr. Lewis Young, Angel Flight Central
Dr. Lewis Young has provided more than 700 flights since 2001 for Angel Flight Central, a volunteer organization that provides long-distance transportation at times of personal and community crisis.
• Distinguished Volunteers – Dick Gooch, Angel Flight Central and
Larry A. Lemke, Wings of Hope
Dick Gooch has provided volunteer services for Angel Flight Central for over 14 years as a volunteer staff member, outreach ambassador, board member, and advocate for patients, pilots and staff. Larry Lemke’s extraordinary Wings of Hope program, which he joined in 1995 and has chaired since 2004, provides humanitarian efforts worldwide. Mr. Lemke has flown more than 1100 U.S. flights and worked more than 7,000 hours in charitable efforts providing advanced health care to impoverished people.
• Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying –
Bruce Robin Stoddard and Wright Flight Inc.
For more than 25 years Bruce Robin Stoddard and Wright Flight have used the powerful motivator of aviation to help America’s children stay in school and attain higher personal and educational goals.  Relying almost entirely on volunteer teachers, pilots, and ground crews, the program currently operates in nine states and has more than 20,000 graduates.
• Champion of Public Benefit Flying – 2010 Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift
In July 2010, the Citation Special Olympics Airlift capped a two-year planning effort led by Cessna Aircraft Company, involving more than 200 employee volunteers and some 160 volunteer Cessna Citation business jets to provide transportation for Special Olympics athletes from around the country to the quadrennial Special Olympics USA National Games.

“I am very proud of the recipients of the 2011 Public Benefit Flying Awards,” said NAA President and CEO Jonathan Gaffney.  “All of the nominations were worthy and the list of our honorees demonstrates again the diversity of public benefit flying in America and the many different people who benefit from it.”
Air Care Alliance Chairman Rol Murrow noted, “Each year thousands of volunteers in aviation quietly work to fly patients for care, provide educational flights for youth, support environmental causes, serve in times of emergencies, help our veterans, and provide help in many other ways to those in need.  Along with NAA, we are pleased to be able to work with leaders in our Nation’s capital to honor these selfless individuals, their groups, and those who provide essential support for them.”
This year’s recipients will be honored at the annual “Above and Beyond” Ceremony September 15, in the U.S. Capitol.  The public is invited, but must register to attend. Click here for details.

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NAA AND AIR CARE ALLIANCE ANNOUNCE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2010 PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING AWARDS

Washington, DC, July 12, 2010 — 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 2010 National Public Benefit Flying Awards.       

The recipients were:
Distinguished Volunteer Pilot – Gene Schmidt, Bahamas Habitat
Distinguished Volunteer – Justin Ogden, Captain, Civil Air Patrol, Southwest Region, Arizona Wing
Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying – Bahamas Habitat
Teamwork Award – NBAA, AERObridge and Bahamas Habitat on behalf of all Volunteer Pilots and other Volunteers Conducting Flights in Support of the Haitian Relief Efforts.

“Just as in years past, this year’s Public Benefit Flying Honorees symbolize the very best of the people, organizations, and equipment which make up the aviation community in America,” said Jonathan Gaffney, President and CEO of NAA and Chairman of the Selection Committee.   “These awards reflect the selflessness of our industry and the benefit it provides to people throughout our continent.  We are very proud to be part of this program.”

Air Care Alliance Chairman Rol Murrow notes, “Our organizations worked together to make sure that these quiet but hard working and dedicated volunteers and their groups receive the recognition and honors they so richly deserve. People in need and the nation at large are deeply indebted to them for their outstanding service.”

The Public Benefit Flying Awards were created to honor volunteer pilots, other volunteers, and their organizations engaged in flying to help others, and those supporting such work. Since 2003 dozens of awards have been presented at the celebratory Above and Beyond Awards Ceremony, held each fall in the United States Capitol Building.

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