Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Explained

Humanitarian Pilots Initiative (HPI) is an NGO with charitable aims, with registered headquarters in Rehetobel, Switzerland. Its stated aim is to provide a focus for 'committed pilots and supporters who use their abilities for humanitarian purposes – regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity or nationality'.[1] [2] [3]

Assets

Since 2017, in the central Mediterranean, HPI in conjunction with Sea-Watch have operated a SAR-coordinating reconnaissance aircraft, Moonbird,[4] a single-engined Cirrus SR22 (registration HB-KMM), and since June 2020, also the Seabird, a twin-engined high-performance Beechcraft Baron 58 (registration HB-GMM).[5] [6] [7]

Activities

In July 2018, Malta blocked Moonbird operations by HPI and Sea-Watch, following an incident between Italy, Malta and the charity ship Lifeline.[8] The Times of Malta reported that HPI had been "involved in rescue of 20,000 people".[8] The blockade lasted three months.[9]

In June 2020, during 14 missions, 21 boats were spotted, and more than 940 migrants in distress.[10]

In July 2020, pictures from the Moonbird showed ships apparently ignoring a vessel in distress over a period of 40 hours.[11]

On another sortie in July 2020, observers on the Moonbird gathered evidence suggesting the involvement of Armed Forces of Malta in refoulement by the Libyan coastguard.[12]

In September 2020, the Italian Civil Aviation authority grounded Moonbird; operations restarted in November 2020.

In March 2021, by their own estimates, HPI flew 9 missions, during which a total of some 476 people were observed in distress on 7 boats.[13]

In June 2021, HPI's two aircraft were operating from Lampedusa, on the island of Sicily.[14] Both aircraft were still operational in December 2021.[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HUMANITARIAN PILOTS INITIATIVE – THE RIGHTEOUS OF THE MED SEA . www.nobel-righteous-mediterraneansea.info . 20 June 2021 . it-IT.
  2. Web site: Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Foundation (HPI) . www.moneyhouse.ch . 20 June 2021.
  3. Web site: Projektträger Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Foundation (HPI) . stiftungen.stiftungschweiz.ch . 20 June 2021.
  4. Web site: The Moonbird aircraft . 26 November 2018 . www.alamy.com . 3 September 2021 . 3 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210903220933/https://www.alamy.com/the-moonbird-aircraft-operated-by-german-maritime-rescue-ngo-sea-watch-and-the-swiss-humanitarian-pilots-initiative-to-search-for-migrant-boats-is-seen-from-the-migrant-search-and-rescue-ship-sea-watch-3-as-it-patrols-the-search-and-rescue-zone-off-the-libyan-coast-in-international-waters-in-the-central-mediterranean-november-26-2018-reutersdarrin-zammit-lupi-image373691940.html . dead .
  5. Web site: Moonbird & Seabird; Civilian aerial reconnaissance mission at the world’s deadliest border . sea-watch.org . 17 June 2021.
  6. Web site: December 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them . 18 December 2020 . European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, fra.europa.eu . 18 May 2021.
  7. Web site: 7 results for Humanitarian Pilots Initiative (HPI) . www.jetphotos.com . 20 June 2021.
  8. https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/government-stops-search-and-rescue-flight.683513 Malta blocks humanitarian aircraft- Aircraft involved in rescue of 20,000 people not allowed to operate
  9. https://www.dw.com/en/german-refugee-ngo-plane-looks-for-the-living-and-the-dead/a-46035755 German refugee NGO plane looks for the living and the dead
  10. https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/25874/mediterranean-with-the-seabird-and-moonbird-humanitarian-aircraft-we-have-spotted-20-000-migrants-in-distress-at-sea Mediterranean: 'With the Seabird and Moonbird humanitarian aircraft, we have spotted 20,000 migrants in distress at sea'
  11. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/15/italian-coastguard-and-cargo-ship-ignored-stricken-migrant-boat Italian coastguard and cargo ship ‘ignored stricken migrant boat’
  12. https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/interview-tamino-bohm-sea-watchs-head-airborne-operations Interview with Tamino Bohm: Sea Watch's head of airborne operations
  13. https://www.hpi.swiss/single-post/sea-watch-monthly-report-03-2021 Sea-Watch Monthly Report 03/2021
  14. https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2021/june-2021-update-ngo-ships-sar-activities June 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights
  15. https://fra.europa.eu/en/publication/2021/december-2021-update-ngo-ships-sar-activities#publication-tab-1 December 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights

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