Empty Flights
"As an aircraft owner, I'm well aware that our flights aren't always as efficient as you'd hope. Ministry Wings Aviation and Empty Flight Plan give us a chance to make empty or incomplete flights more productive—while meeting real needs and helping do some good in the world."
"The flight was wonderful and we were so blessed and impressed with Ministry Aviation. It is a much needed service to the cause of Christ."
- Jimmy Evans
"Ministry Wings Aviation was a crucial partner during the negotiations to free Jim Allen, one of the missionaries who was wrongly detained in Haiti in 2010. Not only did this organization provide transportation for the Allen family, but they actually provided Jim and our legal team critical and essential transportation home to Amarillo, Texas, when he was released. During a stressful, complicated legal situation, MWA's Empty Flight Plan saved the day."
-- Hiram Sasser, Liberty Institute (Dallas, Texas)
“I’m blown away by how God orchestrated putting a flight together and how Ministry Wings Avi-ation found a flight through the U-Haul company. It’s just amazing.”
— Roland Taylor II, (Amarillo, Texas)
“I was a stranger and you invited me in…The value of MWA’s Empty Flight Plan is priceless!”
- Pastor Bill Gehm
Calvary Chapel Amarillo
Commercial airlines are almost always filled to capacity, but anyone who’s flown on a corporate jet knows they regularly operate with empty seats. Corporate aircraft are convenient but inefficient. Meanwhile, transportation has become one of the most expensive needs of Christian ministries, churches, missionaries, and humanitarian/relief organizations. What if the empty seats on worldwide business jet and turboprop aircraft could be filled by organizations requiring inexpensive transportation? That’s the goal of Empty Flight Plan, which launches in early 2012. It connects the operators of empty flights with ministries, churches or other non-profit organizations who can make use of these available seats.
HOW IT WORKS FOR AIRCRAFT OWNERS & OPERATORS
Our goal is to connect ministry personnel with participating aircraft. Owners and operators post a deadhead or empty flight. If appropriate, we then request that a member of our network be aboard that flight. Pilots remain in complete control of every aspect of the aircraft/flight.
SECURITY: You decide which flights to post using our secure online form. Operators’ information and flight schedules are visible only to network members and not the general public. MWA has a strict policy in place to allow only cleared individuals or church organizations to participate. All participants are like-minded in our mission.
SCHEDULING: You decide your flight’s schedule according to your normal course of business. We do not require or request any input into your scheduling.
SAFETY: Statistically, business operators are more likely to have a fatal accident during a deadhead leg than when carrying passengers. Participation in our Empty Flight Plan reduces this risk for potentially relaxed cockpit discipline on empty flights.
MWA understands that if not for the operator, this idea would never take flight. Thank you for considering being a part of this important project. Worthy corporations supporting worthy causes.
To learn more, sign up for email updates on the homepage.
To use Empty Flight Plan, ministries must first apply to be part of our network (a one-time registration fee is required). Ministry Wings Aviation will connect these like-minded ministries, churches, or missionaries with participating aircraft who have posted empty seats. When you need to travel to a certain destination, request a flight and check the posted flight schedules. Should one become available that fits your schedule and destination, you’re ready to go!
SAFETY: For passenger safety, our worldwide network consists only of turboprop or jet aircraft. Using our secured system, your information and flights will only be available to our network—not the general public.
SCHEDULING: Empty Flight Plan is for those with flexible travel schedules. These are not commercial flights and are subject to change according to the needs of the operator and their normal course of business. Any cancellations, delays, or departure/arrival changes are beyond our control. (If the details of your travel schedule are important, we suggest purchasing a full-fare refundable ticket as a back up.)
COSTS: Other than the one-time registration fee, Empty Flight Plan is launching as donation-only. Subscription fees may be added at any time as demand increases. There will be no flight fees. However, you may be asked by the operator to pay associated passenger fees on-board international flights.
OTHER USES: Additional, non-ministry-related emergency needs (organ transplant patients, humanitarian opportunities) may be considered on a case-by-case basis as approved by our board.
Watch for iPhone and iPad apps in the future to help with scheduling!
To learn more, sign up for email updates on the homepage.
