FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Eric R. Byer
Vice President, Government & Industry Affairs
800-808-6282
ebyer@nata.aero
NATA RAISES FUNDS FOR COMBAT WOUNDED
Alexandria, VA, January 11, 2012 — The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) has partnered once again with the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) to raise funds for their mission supporting our combat wounded. The VAC is a charitable organization that provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical and other compassionate purposes. NATA and VAC established a special fund last year, NATA Wings for Warriors, for NATA members and friends to contribute to the organization. This year, NATA’s support of VAC has been expanded throughout all of the association’s major 2012 events.
VAC was founded by retired U.S. Army helicopter pilot Walt Fricke, who grew the VAC mission from a single volunteer aircraft owner and pilot, himself, into a national network consisting of over 1700 volunteer aircraft owners and pilots.
When wounded warriors return from the battlefield, they are often in need of ongoing medical treatment far from their homes, loved ones, and comrades. VAC coordinates the transportation of wounded veterans and their families all over the country, utilizing a network of volunteer aircraft owners and pilots who have generously donated their time and equipment to support the activities of the VAC. In fact, these flights are now recognized under the official Federal Aviation Administration call sign “Hero Flight,” which air traffic control grants priority handling whenever possible.
“The VAC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,” said VAC CEO and Founder Walt Fricke. “Donations are absolutely crucial to maintaining our national network of pilots and aircraft owners, in order to facilitate their missions. And, with our target of doubling the size of our turbine/jet volunteer fleet over the next 18 months, we look forward to partnering with organizations such as NATA to help us in accomplishing this vital goal,”
What can you do to help?
· Make a personal or corporate contribution to the NATA Wings for Warriors fund by visiting http://www.veteransairlift.org/m/(S(hsgfjc45s5us3s45igmsiyfi))/donate.aspx?campaign=NATAWFW2012
· Share the VAC mission with fractional share owners and card program members. Ask them to donate unused flight hours to the VAC.
· Give a corporate gift of flight hours to the VAC.
“We are honored to bring awareness to the Veterans Airlift Command and its important mission,” said NATA President and CEO James K. Coyne. “We encourage our members to consider not only making financial donations, but also offering aircraft and pilots for VAC flights; even a few hours a year would be a gracious contribution to VAC.”
VAC will also have a booth at the NATA FBO Leadership Conference to be held March 28-29 in Washington, D.C. and the NATA Air Charter Summit to be held June 11-13 in Dulles, VA. Visit www.nata.aero/events for more information on these events.
Visit http://www.veteransairlift.blogspot.com/ for the latest news on the VAC and to read stories from veterans and their families regarding the critical work of the VAC.
To view pdf version, click here.
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NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before Congress and the federal agencies.