Aviators assisting relief efforts

[evangilder]

There is an organization in the US called "Angel Flight" that is a volunteer organization of GA (General Aviation) pilots that assist after natural disasters. They have been assisting. The article below also states that the CAF ( the organization where I volunteer ) is also pitching in.

Despite beauracratic obstacles, hundreds of volunteer pilots and their GA aircraft are contributing to the relief effort. Civil Air Patrol pilots who live in Mississippi fly all day and return at night to homes damaged by the storm. "These people have drawn on some inner strength to get the job done," says Maj. Owen Younger, who is overseeing operations in Jacksonville, Miss. CAP cadets are helping out on the ground, checking on victims and handing out thousands of pounds of basic supplies. Even the vintage aircraft of the Commemorative Air Force are helping. A CAF R4D (a Navy version of the DC-3) based in Lancaster, Texas, has been delivering freight from Austin to Hammond, La. Most of the crew flying the 60-plus-year-old airplane are age 70 and over. Angel Flight has kept busy with over 1,000 supply runs and relocation flights. LifeLine Pilots have been filling in for the regular Angel Flight missions. More pilots keep volunteering -- LifeLine alone signed up 14 pilots in the last week. From Friday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 5, more than 200 civilian and military aircraft safely coordinated by Operation Air Care evacuated nearly 20,000 people, while bringing in relief supplies.

http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/avflash/463-full.html#190550

To everyone involved in the efforts:

 

[Nonskimmer]

Now hows that for getting the job done?
Vintage aircraft and pilots can do it on their own initiative, so why not the government? And kudos to those CAP cadets too! Great stuff!

 

[evangilder]

Yep, I kind of wonder if the feds would be better to step away and take good notes. Then they could figure out the best and worst and come up with better plans.

 

[plan_D]

Good on 'em - a credit to all the lads and ladies involved. A credit to the record of the Dakota too!

 

[Wildcat]

I read somewhere that John Travolta and his wife have been ferrying in food and medicine in his own aircraft.

 

[evangilder]

That could very well be. He is an avid pilot and I would think he would be involved in this. I know Harrison Ford flies Helos, has anyone heard if he has been involved?

 

[plan_D]

Tom Cruise should fly some in with his Mustang.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Good stuff, I would love to have a job with them.

 

[evangilder]

I think they are all volunteers. If I had my PPL now, I would volunteer to help out.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I would if I the army would let me.