Association Pilotes Volontaires Explained

Association Pilotes Volontaires (French: 'Volunteer Pilots Association') is a charitable NGO based in France which flies Search and rescue missions looking for refugees in danger on the Mediterranean Sea with their two reconnaissance aircraft.[1] It was founded by José Benavente[2] and Benoît Micolon in January 2018.[3] Their initial aircraft, a Dyn'Aéro MCR4S, was called Colibri, and flew its first mission in May 2018.[4]

Association Pilotes Volontaires typically operates by contacting the MRCC in Rome, rather than NGO rescue vessels directly.[5]

As of June 2019, they had logged 52 missions, sighting 54 boats and by their estimates saving more than 4,300 people.[4] At that date, the Association numbered 14 volunteer staff including eight pilots.[4]

In December 2020, Association Pilotes Volontaires[6] began operation of a second Dyn'Aéro MCR4S reconnaissance aircraft, named Colibri 2; both aircraft were still operational in December 2021.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Week-end de soutien pour l’association Pilotes Volontaires! . Support weekend for the Volunteer Pilots association! . 6 September 2021 . www.bigorre-mag.fr . 2 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Migrants : À la rencontre de la sentinelle de la Méditerranée . Migrants: Meet the Sentinel of the Mediterranean . 4 December 2021 . www.wedemain.fr . 2 January 2021.
  3. Web site: PILOTES VOLONTAIRES . 27 August 2018 . arverefugies.fr . 2 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Pilotes Volontaires . 2 June 2019 . www.pilotes-volontaires.org . 21 June 2021.
  5. Web site: Des pilotes professionnels s’engagent pour sauver les migrants en Méditerranée . Professional pilots take action to save migrants in the Mediterranean . 13 March 2018 . www.infomigrants.net . 4 January 2022.
  6. Web site: Pilotes Volontaires . www.lilo.org . 25 June 2021.
  7. Web site: December 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights . 17 December 2021 . European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, fra.europa.eu . 2 January 2022.

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