Charity begins … in North American skies

opinion

by Mike Stones

October 6, 2024

More business jets are being used for charitable flights. (Photocredit: ACJ).

So, you’ve just bought your new business jet (cheaper models are available), what next? Many years of safe, secure and luxurious private and business travel for you, your family, friends and business associates. You might also try the charter market. Anything else? The answer for growing numbers of high-net-worth individuals lies in donating flight time to charitable and humanitarian purposes.

According to a recent survey of US family offices commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ), it’s becoming increasingly popular to deploy business aircraft on philanthropic missions. The manufacturer commissioned the independent research company Pureprofile to survey 100 senior executives at large US family offices whose organisation has on average $3.35bn of assets under management. The research was conducted in March 2024.

More than three-quarters (77%) of respondents report supporting local or national charities by providing them with some access to their aircraft. Nearly half (44%) support the US cancer charity Corporate Angel Network (CAN).

Increase their budget

Over 75% of family office managers expect their business aircraft to be used more to support good causes over the next three years. And 9% predicted the use of their business aircraft for good causes would increase significantly while 67% expected it to rise slightly. The main reason for flying humanitarian missions is family offices’ growing focus on philanthropy; with 86% planning to increase their budget for philanthropy over the next two years.

Of those family offices which do not currently use their aircraft for charitable and humanitarian causes, 39% planned to start such operations within the next two years. More than half (54%) hoped to do so in the next two to three years. The main reason for not flying such missions, cited by more than half of respondents, was that no one was appointed to manage these operations. Nearly one third (30%) said it is because they do not have enough spare capacity.

At least when it comes to deploying business aircraft to help people in distress, there’s no shortage of opportunity. Whether that is disaster relief or medical missions, growing numbers of business aircraft are being deployed to help alleviate suffering.

Hurricane Helene

Only this week, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) activated its Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) database in the aftermath of the devastating Hurricane Helene. The database is designed to help mobilise business aviation to support relief efforts across the Southeastern US.

“Business aircraft have long played an essential role in providing relief for people and communities in need in times of crisis,” said Doug Carr, NBAA senior vice president, safety, security, sustainability and international operations. “They are often able to turn roadways into runways, or hillsides into heliports, in order to reach isolated locations. NBAA’s HERO database offers one-stop access to those in business aviation who want to lend a helping hand with their aircraft and other assets.”

The deadliest mainland US hurricane since Katrina, Helene has already claimed more than 200 lives with insurers estimating the financial damage at up to $100bn.

Less dramatic, but no less significant to the people concerned, are business aircraft used to transport patients hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles for life-saving medical treatment. Cancer charity CAN relies on turboprop and jet business aircraft for the free transportation of cancer patients and their carers to specialised medical centres.

68,000 flights

During the past 40-plus years, the charity has co-ordinated more than 68,000 flights thanks to the donations of over 500 corporations, including half of the Fortune 100 companies, it says. Last month the charity added a turboprop aircraft to join its turbofan-powered fleet.

Robert Stangarone, the charity’s new president and CEO tells CJI: “Business aircraft operators’ growing interest in using their aircraft for charitable and humanitarian purposes is a positive trend that will further demonstrate how companies give back by helping people going through some of the most trying times of their lives.” It’s good news for organisations like Corporate Angel Network which depend on corporate aircraft to meet the growing needs of the patient community to access their treatment across the US, he added.

It’s not just the patients and their carers who benefit. “Flight crews who engage with our cancer patients say it’s one of the most rewarding experiences because it truly makes a difference in the lives of people going through the most difficult times of their lives,” said Stangarone.

‘Keep a low profile’

Uncovering the true extent of humanitarian flights can prove challenging. Not everyone may be willing to acknowledge their participation. As Mike Stengel, principal of AeroDynamic Advisory tells CJI: “Revealing that you have a business jet, especially one as large as an ACJ or BBJ, can lead to backlash even if your intentions are good. Many owners might elect to keep a low profile. They could still provide the aircraft for philanthropic reasons but may not necessarily publicise it.”

Nevertheless, it does seem donating business aircraft flight time to charitable and humanitarian causes is becoming more popular. Sadly, in our increasingly unsafe world, there is no shortage of missions for them to fly.