ATS Mission
Each year, millions of people around the world are affected by pandemics, medical emergencies, and natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, mudslides, volcanic eruptions, and wildfires. Although every disaster is unique, the effects are often the same: personal loss that results in physical, emotional, and spiritual distress along with a struggle to provide for even basic needs.
Air Transport Services, Inc. (“ATS”) is a Tennessee non-profit Volunteer Pilot Organization established in January 2022 to provide disaster relief and humanitarian aid to individuals affected by natural disasters, pandemics, and medical emergencies throughout the United States and the Caribbean Islands. ATS operates exclusively for charitable purposes within the scope of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
ATS provides ongoing training for volunteer pilots and support crew members
The mission of ATS is to organize and support the use of private aviation as a means to provide transportation in these situations, especially when other transportation methods are not available or practical. This involves:
- Maintaining an organization to support volunteer pilots as they use their aircraft in relief efforts. This support includes such services as are allowed by the FAA in this unique setting and can involve training, dispatch, ground support, and other types of practical logistic assistance.
- Transportation support provided to established relief organizations which assess needs and address these needs by delivering humanitarian supplies and volunteer relief personnel.
- Transportation of medical personnel and supplies.
- Transportation of disaster victims, both for medical purposes and to evacuate them to safe locations where their needs can be provided for.
Relief and Medical Supplies
As a consequence of a natural disaster, basic humanitarian supplies are either not available locally or cannot be delivered because commercial means of shipping and travel have been disrupted. ATS is able to mobilize quickly to support relief organizations with aviation support to safely deliver essential supplies, and to do so in a manner that complies with government requirements.
Rescue and Medical Personnel
ATS facilitates the unique transportation needs of rescue and medical personnel and their supplies and equipment in these challenging environments.
Construction Volunteers
A considerable need for skilled construction volunteers and their equipment often exists immediately following a natural disaster to stabilize homes and buildings so that they can continue to be occupied if possible. ATS provides this type of transportation support when it is not commercially available or practical.
Reconnaissance and Assessment
Immediately following a natural disaster, relief organizations eager to respond need accurate information regarding the status of facilities such as airports, ports, and hospitals, as well as the needs of disaster victims themselves. Individuals who have the experience to assess and report on these conditions must physically travel to the impacted areas. This often happens when commercial means of travel have been suspended. ATS is able to quickly mobilize private aviation assets to facilitate these needs.