On December 6 and 7, 2019, Santa will be flying general aviation in Michigan. That’s when Child and Family Services of Michigan Inc. enlists the aid of volunteer pilots who deliver Christmas gifts throughout the state to foster children.
This will be the forty-eighth year of making Christmas wishes come true for foster care children in Michigan through a program called Operation Good Cheer. The Christmas gift-giving program began in 1971, when it was organized by the late Constantine Kortidis; program recipients include infants, children, teenagers, and adults with disabilities.
Thousands of volunteers participate in Operation Good Cheer. Donor groups and individuals purchase Christmas gifts from wish lists. Then, at donor sites, these gifts are picked up, loaded, and transported by volunteer trucking companies and their drivers to Pontiac-Oakland County International Airport. Volunteer pilots use their aircraft to transport the gifts to local airports across Michigan. At each airport, volunteers gather the gifts and deliver them to the children and youth in foster care. This generosity provides thousands of Michigan children—some of whom would not receive anything otherwise—with Christmas gifts, and the joy of knowing there are people who care.
More than 13,000 gifts are delivered each year to more than 7,000 children. Pilots and aircraft descend on Pontiac’s airport and participate in a choreographed ballet of gift sorting, loading of aircraft, and sending flights out across the state.
Web: cfsm.org/operation-good-cheer
WHY YOU SHOULD GO
Volunteer pilots often get back more than they give—accomplishment, helping others, the smile of a child. Don’t let Santa get all the glory.
Take the Leap
Make wishes come true
Volunteer your piloting skills
You love to fly, and you like the idea of using your passion to help others. But what does it take to become a volunteer pilot? Giving through flying is priceless. But where do you begin? What skills are required and how can you hone those skills to match the high level of professionalism and responsibility expected of volunteer pilots? Take the AOPA Air Safety Institute’s Public Benefit Flying: Balancing Safety and Compassion free online course for an in-depth review of volunteer flying and to bolster your proficiency. The course profiles real-world public benefit flight scenarios and allows you to practice decision-making skills for safe choices, every flight.
