Most people don’t expect a pageant titleholder to show up talking about aviation, let alone volunteer flying. Yet some of the most meaningful moments of my journey have happened not in heels or sash, but on airport ramps, inside small aircraft, and alongside pilots who quietly use their licenses to change lives. I didn’t get into aviation because I dreamed of logbooks or horsepower numbers. And I didn’t get a license to go to the airlines. I got into aviation because I saw how powerful a pilot’s license could be when it’s used for service.
Discovering Aviation Through Purpose
Like many people outside the aviation world, I once viewed flying as something reserved for airlines, business travel, or hobbyists with the time and means to pursue it. That perspective changed when the mini pig that I was adopting was stuck hundreds of miles away when her ground transport fell through. A pilot friend offered to fly down to retrieve her with me which was my first introduction to animal transport in aviation. With Annabelle the pig in the back seat, we completed my first mission to what would become a journey to obtaining my own pilot’s license. Then I was introduced to Pilots n Paws, a nonprofit organization that coordinates volunteer pilots to transport rescue animals- often at risk, injured, or facing euthanasia- from high- risk shelters to rescues, foster homes, and forever families. Watching aviation become a lifeline for animals in need was eye-opening. Flights that might otherwise be “just another trip” suddenly carried urgency, hope, and second chances. It wasn’t about hours or destinations- it was about impact. As someone deeply involved in animal advocacy and community service, this felt like aviation at its best: practical, compassionate, and deeply human.
Volunteering with Pilots n Paws
Through volunteering with Pilots n Paws, I have seen firsthand how pilots donate more than fuel and flight time- they donate opportunity. For animals, that opportunity can mean medical care, safety, and survival. For pilots, it often rekindles why they fell in love with flying in the first place. Pilots n Paws is a nationwide network of volunteer pilots who partner with shelters, rescues, and animal welfare organizations to transport animals—whether that is to a foster home, medical facility, or a forever home waiting hundreds of miles away. These missions are often coordinated around urgent timelines, tight resources, and lives that quite literally depend on access. The aviation community is uniquely positioned to help. We operate in a world where distance is compressed, where a few hours can replace an all-day drive, and where access can mean everything. A single flight can relieve overcrowded shelters, open doors to veterinary care, and give animals a second chance they might not otherwise receive. While many pilots spend countless hours flying to build time, community service offers a meaningful way to combine that goal with purpose. By volunteering their time and aircraft, pilots can support people and animals in need while simultaneously logging valuable flight hours. These missions often represent a true win-win: people and animals benefit from increased access and care, and pilots gain legitimate experience towards proficiency and advancement. Additionally, when flying on behalf of a qualifying nonprofit organizations, fuel expenses and flight lessons can be tax-deductible and can satisfy cross country requirements for student pilots working towards their license or experienced pilots obtaining additional ratings. When pilots choose to give back through organizations like Pilots n Paws, the ripple effect extends far beyond the cockpit.
Being a titleholder has given me a platform- but platforms only matter if they are used with intention. I have chosen to use mine to highlight service- based aviation, volunteer flying, and the countless ways pilots can make a difference beyond recreational or commercial flying. Aviation already demands discipline, responsibility, and trust. Those same qualities make pilots incredibly effective volunteers. Whether it is animal transport, medical flights, disaster relief, or community outreach, pilots hold a skill set that can directly serve others. One of my goals- both through my title and through writing- is to encourage pilots at every level to ask a simple question: “How can I use my pilot’s license to help someone else?” Charitable aviation doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. Some pilots volunteer regularly; others take on a mission when their schedule allows. Some prefer structured nonprofits, while others support local efforts. All of it matters. This article is just the beginning. In future pieces, I hope to explore a variety of ways that pilots can give back. Each opportunity deserves its own spotlight- and each represent a chance for pilots to turn passion into purpose.
A pilot’s license is more than a personal achievement. It’s access. It’s capability. And when used thoughtfully, it’s a tool for service. As a titleholder, I have learned that leadership doesn’t always look loud or glamourous. Sometimes it looks like a pilot quietly filing a flight plan, loading precious cargo, and changing a life without ever asking for recognition. That is the side of aviation that I want more people to see- and the community that I am proud to support.
