Volunteer Pilots Flood Emergency Relief

This fundraiser is to raise fuel and maintenance funds to help out the volunteer pilots who are providing much needed supplies and relief to people isolated due to flood damage. All money raised will go directly to the team of volunteer pilots operating out of the West Coast Pilot Club.

***UPDATE 2021/11/04: Due to unforeseen continued weather and further devastation,  four helicopters have been added to the fleet. While this increases operation efficiency considerably, it also increases expenses. For this reason, we have increased our fundraising goal to $25,000. Thank you, everyone, for your on-going support.

When the BC Floods happened, Shaun Heaps, received a call for help. Shaun is a pilot that flys out of the West Coast Pilot Club. He had a plane and people needed to be evacuated out of areas where all roads were washed out or covered by landslide. In just a couple days, Shaun rallied 24 fixed wing planes and one helicopter. Volunteer pilots and a team of ground operations crew jumped into action to bring evacuees out and supplies in. They have been working every day since November 16 and paying for fuel and aircraft maintenance out of pocket and any donations that have come in. They have put together a tightly run operation that has attracted volunteers. There are still communities in isolated areas that need support. As road crews begin work to clean up one slide area, other slides have happened. These volunteers are essential.

 

Just over a week in and aircraft are in need of oil change ($200/change for a Cessna!) and other minor maintenance. A trip in and out of the flood zone costs $40 in fuel. These volunteers just keep giving and giving because they feel that with available aircraft, they have a responsibility to do so.

 

The team would be grateful for any financial contributions.

 

 

 

Cloverdale Reporter news article