NATA Summit to Raise Funds for Combat Wounded

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) will hold a raffle at its 2012 Air Charter Summit barbeque, held Tuesday, June 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Dulles, Va., to raise funds for the Veterans Airlift Command (VAC) mission to support 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. The Air Charter Summit is to be held June 11-13 in Dulles, Va.

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.

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 of more than 1,700 volunteer aircraft owners and pilots. For the latest news on the VAC and to read stories from veterans and their families regarding the critical work of the VAC, click here.

What can you do to help?

• Participate in the 2012 Air Charter Summit BBQ raffle.
Special items will be raffled at the 2012 Air Charter Summit BBQ on Tuesday night, including a brand new third generation iPad! Raffle tickets will be available for purchase on-site during the summit. If you are interested in donating items for the raffle, please contact Daniel Gurley at dgurley@nata.aero.

• Make a personal or corporate contribution to the NATA Wings for Warriors fund by clicking here.

• Share the VAC mission with aircraft owners, fractional share owners and card program members. Ask them to donate 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.”

The VAC will also have a booth at the NATA 2012 Air Charter Summit to be held June 11-13 in Dulles, Va. Click here for more information on this event.