Albert Ueltschi Humanitarian Award: Veterans Airlift Command
The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), a nonprofit organization that provides air transportation aboard private aircraft for wounded veterans and their famili

The Veterans Airlift Command (VAC), a nonprofit organization that provides air transportation aboard private aircraft for wounded veterans and their families, is being organized as this year’s recipient of the Al Ueltschi Humanitarian Award.
“The aviation community really connects on this, and they have been pretty aggressive in signing up,” noted VAC founder and former Army helicopter pilot Walter Fricke.

Formed in July 2005, VAC volunteer pilots and loaned aircraft reunite wounded servicemen and women with family members in an effort aimed at speeding their physical and mental recovery. Fricke, who was wounded in Vietnam, said he understands the impact such assistance can have on a soldier’s ability to heal.