…But Could Do So Much More…

While GA is making a difference in the massive humanitarian effort, much more could be done if government authorities would simply tap the huge resource at its fingertips. “Literally thousands of pilots are members of volunteer pilot organizations and many wish to help,” Rol Murrow, head of the Air Care Alliance, told AVweb on Sunday. “However the magnitude of the disaster and terrible communications, combined with well-intentioned attempts to control traffic, have slowed utilization of the volunteer groups.” Morrow said some groups have found roles in the relief effort but the vast majority of work is being done by government aircraft and a valuable resource is being underutilized. “General Aviation is uniquely capable of meeting needs for point-to-point transportation for relief workers and supplies, and for patients needing transport out of affected areas,” he said. “There’s a phenomenal amount of capacity. Small planes are so much more flexible.”