Recognized In Multiple Categories, Including Outstanding
Achievement
On September 16th the National Aeronautic Association
presented their 2010 Public Benefit Flying Awards at the National
Capitol building in Washington DC. This year, one
organization was recognized in multiple categories. The
Distinguished Volunteer Pilot award was presented to a Bahamas
Habitat Volunteer Pilot, Mr. Gene Schmidt, and the Outstanding
Achievement in Public Benefit Flying was presented to the Bahamas
Habitat organization.
The association also recognized all volunteers of Bahamas
Habitat, as well as all organizations that participated in the
Haitian relief efforts, with the Teamwork Award, which was
presented jointly to Bahamas Habitat, NBAA and AERObridge
(previously CARE). The Distinguished Volunteer Award was presented
to Justin Ogden, Captain, Civil Air Patrol, Southwest Region,
Arizona.
Gene Schmidt responded to Bahamas Habitat's call for pilots at
the beginning of the Haiti earthquake disaster and proceeded to fly
a portion of every week for over a month and a half in support of
the mission delivering supplies and helping to extract people from
the hardest hit areas of Haiti.
Bahamas Habitat Operating In Haiti
Bahamas Habitat and their 125 plus volunteer pilots like Gene
Schmidt, were extensively involved in Haitian relief efforts
through the use of general aviation aircraft. The organization
responded with a command center in Nassau coordinating hundreds of
volunteer aircraft to deliver hundreds of thousands of pounds of
relief aid as well as transporting doctors and emergency volunteers
to Haiti after the earthquake. Volunteer pilots came from all over
the US and Canada to fly with Bahamas Habitat demonstrating the
amazing potential available from the public benefit flying
sector.
"It was an honor and a privilege for me to receive on behalf of
Bahamas Habitat, as an organization as well as on behalf of each of
our volunteers, these awards of recognition for their selfless
service. Those of us that served know 'its not about us'. I was
pleased that we had the opportunity to take a moment during the
presentation to remember those that we served and those that are
still suffering. I am so proud of each and every one that served
and that was recognized by these awards", stated John Armstrong,
President & Chairman of Bahamas Habitat.
"The honor of the Distinguished Volunteer Pilot Award further
expresses our respect and gratitude for Gene's contribution to the
betterment of people's lives. Gene is the epitome of a
servant, one who is always giving of himself uplifting the world
around him…creatively too, he finds ways to do all this with
an airplane", said Cameron King, Aviation and Disaster Response
Coordinator, Bahamas Habitat.
Bahamas Habitat Operating In Haiti
"This is a prominent award for which Bahamas Habitat is very
appreciative. We are honored and grateful to National Aeronautic
Association and The Air Care Alliance for this recognition. It is
the commitment and genuine caring of so many amazing volunteers
that made our efforts this year possible. It is on behalf of each
and every one of our volunteers, who give so much, that we
acknowledge this recognition and accept this honor", continued John
Armstrong.
Since 2003, the Public Benefit Flying Awards presented by the
National Aeronautic Association in conjunction with Air Care
Alliance have honored organizations and individuals who are
committed to flying in order to serve others.
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