Air Care Alliance

What Air Care Alliance does

Air Care Alliance (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 that serves as the central coordinating body for public benefit flying in the United States. Rather than operating flights directly, ACA functions as an umbrella coalition of 59+ regional volunteer pilot organizations, providing infrastructure, branding, regulatory advocacy, and referral coordination across the network. The organization's core technology is VPOIDS (Volunteer Pilot Organization Information Database System), an automated web-based referral system hosted at vpoids.aircarealliance.org that routes patient flight requests to the appropriate regional member organization based on geography and service type. ACA also administers the ICAO-assigned COMPASSION call sign (CMF), granted in 1999, which allows volunteer pilots to identify themselves to air traffic control as bona fide public benefit flights.

ACA's service recipients include medical patients requiring distant specialized care, military veterans, animal welfare organizations, disaster response entities, conservation groups, and youth/education programs. All flights are free to passengers; volunteer pilots donate their time, aircraft, and all flight expenses. The organization's revenue model is donation-driven (from individuals, companies, and foundations), supplemented by membership dues ($500/year for voting members, free for non-voting). The central staff is small (1-10), with the operational scale delivered through member organizations — the network collectively logged 23,292 flights, 2.48 million miles, and $21 million in pilot in-kind donations in the most recent reporting period.

ACA's strategic positioning rests on three regulatory and ecosystem assets: the COMPASSION call sign, FAA-secured liability protections for volunteer pilots under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, and an FAA policy clarification that charitable deductions do not constitute compensation. The organization maintains flagship partnerships with EAA, AOPA, and the National Aeronautic Association, and operates the annual Air Care Conference and the National Public Benefit Flying Awards program. Leadership was reorganized in May 2026 with JJ Suarez as Board Chair and Barbara Sica as Executive Director.

Name

Air Care Alliance

Legal name

Air Care Alliance

Website

https://aircarealliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Air Care Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition founded in 1990 that coordinates a nationwide network of 59+ volunteer pilot organizations providing free air transportation for medical patients, veterans, animals, and disaster response.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Aviation Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Ambulance Services (621910)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Medical Air Transport (Air Ambulance/Patient Transfer) (TLAFABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical Passenger Transfer (Non-Emergency Patient Transport) (THABAGAG), Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD)

Keywords

• Charitable aviation services
• Volunteer pilot network
• Public benefit flying
• Medical flight coordination
• Nonprofit aviation coalition

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Primary revenue stream. ACA raises funds through donations to support organizational operations, outreach efforts, pilot recruitment, and coordination staff. Donations come from individuals, companies, and foundations supportive of charitable aviation.
2. Membership Dues: Voting membership requires $500 annual dues contribution. Non-voting membership is free. Membership provides voting rights, priority referrals, directory prominence, and conference discounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Air Care Alliance operates the VPOIDS automated referral system that connects patients and others in need with free volunteer air transportation provided by a nationwide network of 59+ volunteer pilot organizations. The coalition does not directly operate flights but coordinates the matching of individuals requesting transport (predominantly medical patients) with regional groups donating private airlift, while also providing supporting programs such as the COMPASSION call sign, safety training, and an annual conference.

Product overview

Air Care Alliance (ACA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit umbrella organization representing a nationwide network of volunteer pilot groups. ACA does not directly operate flights but serves as a centralized hub connecting those in need with charitable aviation services. Its primary digital product is the VPOIDS (Volunteer Pilot Organization Information Database System) Automated Referral System, which processes flight requests and connects passengers and volunteer pilots with member organizations. Additional offerings include the COMPASSION CMF Call Sign program for pilot identification with air traffic control, safety training resources developed jointly with the AOPA Air Safety Institute, the annual Air Care Conference, and the National Public Benefit Flying Awards program administered with the National Aeronautic Association.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VPOIDS Automated Referral System Web-based automated referral system that accepts flight requests from passengers and routes them to the appropriate regional volunteer pilot organization based on geography and service type. Connects those seeking free air transportation with member organizations and helps volunteer pilots find organizations to fly for.
• COMPASSION (CMF) Call Sign Program ICAO-recognized call sign program that allows volunteer pilots conducting public benefit flying missions to identify themselves to air traffic control as bona fide public benefit flights and receive special handling.
• Annual Air Care Conference Annual gathering hosted by ACA that brings together volunteer pilot organizations, flight coordinators, pilots, and supporters for education, networking, and collaboration across the public benefit flying community.
• National Public Benefit Flying Awards Program Annual awards program administered by Air Care Alliance in association with the National Aeronautic Association, recognizing service and accomplishments of volunteers in public benefit aviation across five categories.
• Public Benefit Flying Safety Course Free interactive online safety training course developed jointly with AOPA Air Safety Institute covering subjects appropriate for volunteer pilots and qualifying for FAA Wings program credit.

Quantifiable outcome

• 23,292 flights flown annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026ACA is collaborating with EAA during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 (world's largest aviation gathering, 650,000+ attendees) to showcase public benefit flying. EAA hosts ACA in a prominent structure on Boeing Plaza. Joint campaign 'I WANT YOU FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING' aims to recruit 200 new volunteer pilots. More than 30 ACA volunteers staff the event throughout the week.
• AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) - Air Safety InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA collaborated with AOPA's Air Safety Institute to develop the only interactive online course for volunteer pilots: 'Public Benefit Flying: Balancing Safety and Compassion'. This free course addresses subjects appropriate for volunteer pilots and qualifies for FAA Wings program credit.
• National Aeronautic Association (NAA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA works with NAA to develop and present the annual National Public Benefit Flying Awards, celebrating volunteer accomplishments. Awards presented in five categories including Distinguished Volunteer Pilot and Champion of Public Benefit Flying.
• Angel Flight CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA member organization hosting Air Care 2026 Conference. Angel Flight Central arranges charitable flights for healthcare or humanitarian purposes.
• LifeLine PilotscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA member organization co-hosting Air Care 2026 Conference. LifeLine Pilots provides free medical transportation.
• Angel Flight NortheastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA member that has scheduled over 108,000 free flights with 450+ volunteer pilots since 1996, flying patients over 15 million miles to specialized medical care.
• Angel Flight WestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA member that coordinates free medical transportation for patients in 12 western states. Hosted Air Care 2020 in Van Nuys, CA.
• FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)coreOthersFAA assigned COMPASSION call sign (CMF) to ACA in 1999. FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 included Volunteer Pilot Liability Reform provision championed by ACA. FAA supports charitable deductions for truly humanitarian efforts.
• Vital FlightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA member that hosted Air Care 2019 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• Patient Airlift Services (PALS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACA member that hosted Air Care 2017 conference on Long Island. Developed disaster relief best practices adopted by ACA.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Patient Airlift Services (PALS): ACA member organization providing free air transportation for patients in need of medical care, with disaster relief best practices adopted by ACA. Directly comparable as a volunteer-pilot medical transport charity.
• Angel Flight West: ACA member organization coordinating free medical transportation for patients across 12 western states. Directly comparable as a regional volunteer pilot medical transport charity.
• LifeLine Pilots: ACA member organization providing free medical transportation with reported 600%+ growth in flights flown. Directly comparable as a volunteer-pilot-based medical transport charity operating in the Central US.
• Angel Flight Northeast: ACA member organization that has scheduled over 108,000 free flights since 1996 with 450+ volunteer pilots across the Northeast. Directly comparable in mission, model, and beneficiary base as a regional charitable aviation medical transport provider.
• Miracle Flights: National nonprofit providing free commercial air travel for children with serious medical conditions needing distant specialized care. Directly comparable in mission (free medical air transport) but uses commercial flights rather than volunteer pilots.
• Corporate Angel Network: Arranges free flights on corporate jets for cancer patients traveling to specialized treatment. Directly comparable mission of free medical air transport though uses corporate aviation rather than small volunteer aircraft.
• Veterans Airlift Command: Provides free air transportation to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families for medical care and reunification. Directly comparable as a charitable aviation organization serving similar patient populations via volunteer pilots.
• Mercy Medical Angels: National nonprofit that coordinates charitable medical air transportation through volunteer pilot networks and commercial airline donations. Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary base.
• Angel Flight Central: ACA member organization arranging charitable flights for healthcare and humanitarian purposes in the central US, hosting Air Care 2026 Conference. Directly comparable volunteer-pilot medical transport mission.
• Pilots for Patients: Provides free air transportation for medical patients using volunteer pilots. Directly comparable volunteer-pilot-driven charitable medical transport model with similar beneficiary base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/aircarealliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aircarealliance6167
• Facebookfacebook.com/AirCareAlliancePBF
• Instagraminstagram.com/aircarealliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/air-care-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Air Care Alliance