Flying with purpose: How Canadian Wings of Rescue Helps Save Animal Lives

^{Written by: the team at Canadian Wings of Rescue
Photo courtesy of Canadian Wings of Rescue}

As Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) members, you know the excitement of flight and the freedom of the open sky. Now imagine combining your love of aviation with a greater purpose; to help animals in need of air transportation. Many of our members already help drive meaningful impact in their communities through public benefit flying opportunities and Canadian Wings of Rescue (CWoR) is eager to add more pilots to their network.

Shared Skies, Shared Purpose

CWoR is a volunteer-run, federally regulated charity that connects communities, rescues, animal welfare professionals and organizations to much-needed animal rescue flights. Volunteer pilots are at the heart of this service and make life-saving transports happen with each flight. Over 11 years, CWoR has flown over 1,200 animals, has a network of over 125 partners and over 200 registered pilots.

Like COPA and its members, CWoR shares a deep-rooted appreciation for aviation, an unyielding commitment to safety, and a strong sense of community. Becoming a volunteer pilot with CWoR isn’t just about flying, believes Maciej Dragan, volunteer pilot and COPA member, it’s about giving animals a second chance.

“I’m a dog lover through and through, and if I can combine that passion with aviation, it’s a win-win situation!” he says. “CWoR pilots routinely go above and beyond for a cause they believe in, knowing they’re making a difference to the animals that they rescue.”

CWoR provides white-glove coordination support for all animal rescue flights and is dedicated to making the job of their volunteer pilots seamless. From streamlined processes to registering new pilots to online self-serve charity tax receipts for eligible operating costs, their goal is to support pilots who give their time and resources to help animals and their communities.

“The recent introduction of the Volunteer Pilot Organization Information Database System (VPOIDS) has made flight coordination as smooth as their rescue flights,” continues Dragan. “It allows pilots to browse available transports, easily update their information, respond to flight requests and generate itineraries.”

Flying for a Cause: Your Impact Awaits

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the family who’s meeting their newly adopted dog for the first time, witnessing an owl being released back into the wild after rehabilitation and delivering a cat to specialized medical care – these are some of the best rewards of being a volunteer CWoR pilot. You’ll witness firsthand the impact of your flights, knowing that you played a crucial role in giving animals a brighter future. By joining forces with CWoR, you will become part of a community of pilots who are not only passionate about aviation but also about making a tangible difference in the world.

Getting Involved

CWoR is always accepting new pilots to help fly their transports. Here are few key details to know:

• All pilots in good standing with a Private Pilot License (PPL) are welcome.
• Aircraft can be owned or rented (with owner’s permission).

The easiest way to start getting involved is to sign up to be added to their pilot request distribution list where you can see which animals need to go where: https://canadianwingsofrescue.ca/for-pilots/. By signing up there is no obligation to fly – you can choose if any opportunities work for you.

We encourage you to learn more about the CWoR team. Your next flight could be more than just an adventure; it could just be the start of a new chapter filled with purpose and a satisfaction like none other.