Bahamas Habitat

Director of Bahamas Habitat Relief Organization is a Test Case in Ground Breaking Flight Training Study at Redbird Skyport

Redbird Skyport and Bahamas Habitat announced an agreement for Redbird to provide the mission flying organization with a fully sponsored slot in their unique accelerated simulator based private pilot training program. Bahamas Habitat Executive Director Abraham McIntyre, a non-pilot candidate of Bahamas Habitat, is nearing completion of the program to be fully trained and certificated as a Private Pilot in about three to four weeks. Click here to learn more and view McIntyre’s interviews with AOPA Live’s Alyssa Miller about the program .

“We are immensely grateful to Redbird for their generous gift and support for our organization and we are very excited to be able to provide Abraham the opportunity to obtain his Private Certificate,” states John Armstrong, Bahamas Habitat Chairman & President.

“With his Private Pilot Certificate, Abe will be far more effective in his role as Executive Director for the Bahamian side of the mission organization. He has many projects in progress in remote locations that need the transportation solution only GA can provide”, states Steve Merritt, Bahamas Habitat Treasurer and Chief Pilot.

Redbird Skyport and Bahamas Habitat teamed up to give McIntyre the tools to better service the people of the Bahamas and are doing so in a revolutionary way. “Redbird Skyport is an amazingly valuable partner not only for supporting our mission training needs, but also for offering the potential to make aviation available to the wider public,” said Armstrong, who is also a pilot and aviation professional. “Redbird is revolutionizing pilot training and we are very excited about the new potential they are creating and the opportunity to be a part of this program.”

Bahamas Habitat is supported exclusively by the generous contributions of its volunteers and donors You can also make a contribution to Bahamas Habitat via the Bahamas Habitat website.

Beechcraft Baron Donated by Prominent Aviation Professional

May 1, 2012 — Bahamas Habitat (www.bahamashabitat.org) announced today the donation of the Beechcraft Baron E55 N63JL aircraft to the organization by Thierry Pouille, President of Air Journey in Jupiter FL, for use in its Bahamas mission work.

Since 1998, Air Journey Directors have shared their joy of adventure with fellow pilots. They have shown them the joy of flying in their own plane in small groups across the World to destinations such as the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada, Central America, Europe, South America, and many others.

Pouille is the leading force behind Air Journey (www.airjourney.com). He brings in 38 years of flying experience and has more than 25 years of experience in the Travel Industry. He has flown all over the world including the US, most of the Caribbean islands, all of the countries of Central America, many countries in Europe, and parts of South America. He organizes every journey and is attentive to details making sure to focus on safety and the well being of the clients. He is also an avid photographer providing many of the images on the Air Journey website.

Air Journey and the Baron aircraft were first involved with Bahamas Habitat last September following the devastation of Hurricane Irene in The Bahamas. Through the direction of Neil Glazer, from Pilot Mall, they teamed up with Bahamas Habitat to bring supplies and help to the devastated Cat Island.

Prior to the donation, the Baron was the Pouille family aircraft since May 2000. She was used for travel to many beautiful destinations and exciting discoveries. Thierry talks about the tremendous increase in his flying involvement with all of the exotic journeys Air Journey created; therefore, leading to less and less personal aircraft use. “I realized the N63JL was just sitting on the tarmac under the elements being put to no good use” stated Thierry. “I knew from my experience last September that Bahamas Habitat was the perfect new home for her bringing food and supplies to needy people.”

The aircraft is a beautiful 1971 Beechcraft Baron E55 equipped with King KFC 200 Flight Director/Autopilot, HSI, Garmin 430 GPS, VG Kit, Color Radar, Norton Radone, GAMI Injectors, and all stainless screws and fasteners. The airplane made the cover of AOPA Magazine (www.aopa.org) in December 2009, prior to receiving a new paint job in October of that same year.

”The work of our mission will be significantly benefited by this generous donation”, stated John Armstrong, President of Bahamas Habitat. “We are sincerely grateful to Mr. Pouille and look forward to his continued involvement in the work of the ministry and what God has in store.”

“We are extremely excited to accept the generous donation of this aircraft. A veteran of many Bahamian flights, this aircraft participated in our August 2011 Hurricane Irene disaster relief airlift from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas. We intend to continue to utilize this aircraft to serve the needs of the people of the Bahamas and Haiti. We want to thank Thierry Pouille and Air Journey for enabling the continuing service to the people of the Bahamas and Haiti” said Steve Merritt, Bahamas Habitat Treasurer and Chief Pilot.

In related news, Bahamas Habitat was recently named one of twenty finalists in the running for the Lightspeed Aviation Pilot’s Choice Award. The Lightspeed Aviation Foundation is in its third year of partnering with the aviation community to identify and support worthy aviation causes. The top five charities, as chosen by the aviation community, will receive a cash award for no less than $10,000 to help fulfill their mission. Bahamas Habitat needs your VOTE to be selected as a recipient of one of the $10,000 awards and further the work of Bahamas Habitat. Click on the VOTE NOW image below to cast your vote and to view additional information on current Bahamas Habitat projects.

Redbird, Bahamas Habitat donate wings to island missionary
Published: April 2, 2012
Source: Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Online
By: Alyssa J. Miller

Round trip from Eleuthera Island to a nearby island in the Bahamas could take 11 hours by car and boat, and a daylong meeting on another island could turn into a three-day trip for Bahamas Methodist Habitat Executive Director Abraham McIntyre. Soon, those same trips could be cut to a couple of hours of flight time and allow same-day travel to and from his home base on Eleuthera after an eight-hour meeting on a different island.

He’s working on his private pilot certificate thanks to Redbird Flight Simulations and Bahamas Habitat, the sister organization of Bahamas Methodist Habitat that provides air support for work projects and disaster relief. Redbird donated a $9,500, three- to four-week training slot at its Skyport training facility at San Marcos Municipal Airport in Texas to Bahamas Habitat. The U.S.-based nonprofit organization has been recognized by the National Aeronautic Association for its quick response times after natural disasters in Haiti.

Bahamas Habitat selected McIntyre for the training because he is based on the islands and could respond after a disaster before pilots from the United States can get to the Bahamas. It also would allow McIntyre to travel more efficiently to meetings, to pick up tools and supplies for mission groups, and to help others on less frequented islands.

Josh Harnagel, marketing director of Redbird Skyport, told AOPA Online that the company “didn’t want to give to someone who couldn’t immediately put it to use.” Bahamas Habitat believes McIntyre is the perfect fit. (more…)

We are excited to share with you that Bahamas Habitat has been selected as one of twenty finalist in the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation’s Pilot’s Choice Award Finalist. Now we need your VOTE to be selected as a recipient of one of the $10,000 awards and further the work of Bahamas Habitat.

Bahamas Habitat promotes and develops servant leaders with a global world view by providing educational, economical, community and spiritual development programs that improve the lives of the Bahamians. The organization supports home repair and disaster relief work while introducing pilots to mission flying opportunities in The Bahamas and the Caribbean. Bi-annual Fly-In & Help Out Events promote mission experiences for pilots, aircraft owners, volunteers and aviation organizations in the US and Canada. Consider joining us for the next mission planned for Oct. 25-28, 2012.

Bahamas Habitat also took the lead in raising funds and recruiting volunteers to build the Zion Children’s Home for abandoned and abused children on Current Island in The Bahamas. The Children’s Home is scheduled to open its doors in the very near future to provide 16 children with a safe place to grow, learn and experience love, perhaps for the first time in their lives.

The organization’s newest and very exciting project is the start of a Skills Training Center to be located on the Bahamas Methodist Habitat Camp Symonette site in James’ Cistern, Eleuthera. A recently donated warehouse will be used to to establish this vocational training center that is designed to give the Bahamians marketable construction trade skills. The target population for the Center is anticipated to be at risk youth within the community. Bahamas Habitat has already begun coordinating plans to prepare the new site, relocate and redesign the structure for its future destination and purpose. This promises to be a very exciting program and you are invited to get involved.

The Lightspeed Aviation Foundation is in its third year of partnering with the aviation community to identify and support worthy aviation causes.

All supporters and aviation enthusiasts are invited to vote in the Pilot’s Choice Awards. The top five charities, as chosen by the aviation community, will receive a cash award for no less than $10,000 to help fulfill their mission.

Bahamas Habitat is supported exclusively by the generous contributions of its volunteers and donors  You can also make a contribution to Bahamas Habitat via the Bahamas Habitat website.

Volunteers Learn How Mission Flights Are Rewarding & Fun

February 2, 2012 — Bahamas Habitat (www.bahamashabitat.org) announced today that pilots will be flying to Eleuthera, in February to complete the final stages of a home for abused children. The semi-annual Fly In & Help Out Event, to be held on Thursday, February 16^th through Sunday, February 19^th 2012, serves as an introduction to international mission flying and provides hands on experience with ongoing projects in The Bahamas. All pilots are invited to join us for this special event to hone their international mission flying skills. Typically, over 40 people in more than a dozen aircraft make the trip. The Bahamas Habitat said they expect this event to be even larger due to the excitement surrounding finishing the children’s home.

Construction of the Zion Children’s Home on Current Island began in the fall of 2010 because of the dream of two sisters who wanted to help many abused children.  Thanks to generous support from faithful Bahamas Habitat donors and the local Bahamas church and government, the dream is becoming a reality. Volunteer pilots at the February Fly-In & Help Out Event will transport supplies and focus efforts on completing the first 2 buildings of the children’s home to provide care and safety for 16 abused or orphaned children.

With the children’s home in the final stages of preparation for the grand opening, it’s not too late to get involved. Supplies are still needed to furnish the kitchen. A gift registry was set up at Bed Bath & Beyond using the first name, Zion and last name, Children with instructions on how to ship the purchased items directly to a Bahamas Habitat Florida hub for transport during the upcoming Fly-In & Help Out Event. (more…)

“ Bahamas Habitat has received the very generous gift of a terrific Piper Aztec aircraft in excellent airworthy condition,” announced Steve Merritt, Chief Pilot and Treasurer of Bahamas Habitat. He went on to say, “This gift of an aircraft by a supporter in Minnesota reflects the gratitude that we all feel for the blessing of being involved in this mission.”

Walt and Raeanna Gislason of Willmar, Minnesota made this generous contribution in order to enable the mission to provide logistical support for disaster relief in the islands of the Bahamas and Haiti.  Walt Gislason said, “After my wife, Raeanna and I read about the excellent work that Bahamas Habitat is doing, we thought we could be of assistance by donating this aircraft that would be better used in their mission work.”

Bahamas Habitat has used donated aircraft over the last two years to provide logistical support for people and supplies to support disaster relief efforts from the earthquake in Haiti in January and February of 2010, and more recently to help alleviate the suffering from the effects of Hurricane Irene in the Bahamas.  When there aren’t disasters to respond to the organization uses the planes to support ongoing building projects in the Bahamas like the building of a Children’s Home on Current Island and in support of their main base camp on Eleuthera.

Attention Aircraft Owners: It Is Not Too Late—It is not too late to consider the donation of your aircraft to Bahamas Habitat to take advantage of full deductibility on 2011 tax returns. If you know of anyone who might be interested in aiding the disaster relief program of Bahamas Habitat, there are significant tax advantages to doing so.

In order to take advantage of the tax deduction, the donation must be made before January 1, 2012.  Please contact Steve Merritt at 919-280-5510 or treasurer@bahamashabitat.org.  He will provide you and your tax advisor with advice on how to create an extremely mutually beneficial situation based on the gift of an aircraft.

“Donating an aircraft is quick and easy and generates real money for the donor in the form of reduced taxes or refunds, so it can be a very viable solution for owners wishing to sell or dispose of their aircraft and get an immediate return.” states John Armstrong, President of Bahamas Habitat.

Bahamas Habitat is currently conducting its year-end online fund raising campaign (see: www.bahamashabitat.org.) where donors can make pledges of cash, future payments or vehicles such as aircraft. Funds benefit the operation of the mission and for the completion of the Children’s Home on Current Island.

The organization is hosting its next “Fly-In & Help Out” event February 16^th – 19^th, 2012. Pilots and volunteers interested in becoming involved in flying missions with Bahamas Habitat should sign up at www.bahamashabitat.org to receive the Fly-In & Help Out event information. This will put them on the mission notice email list.

AVIATION MISSION ORGANIZATION LAUNCHES
UNIQUE ONLINE SYSTEM TO RAISE $300,000

Pilots and volunteers opening their hearts and offering their support.

November 23, 2011 — “The Bahamas Habitat annual fund raising ‘Christmas Campaign’ is officially underway and will continue until the end of December,” announced John Armstrong, President of Bahamas Habitat. He went on to say, “The Thanksgiving season is the perfect time to begin our efforts because it reflects the gratitude that we all feel for the blessing of being involved in this mission.”

The organization is using a unique online system it developed that gets everyone involved and leverages social media to not only raise money but to also “Friend Raise” by getting the word out about the mission.  Those that have flown or volunteered in the past act as “ambassadors” to ask their friends and contacts for help to reach their fundraising goals using a personalize webpage on the organization’s fund raising site. They expect over 120 ambassadors to be involved this year.

“This approach helps us not only raise money but it raises awareness so that when a disaster hits we reach out for help and the response is usually immediate” adds Armstrong. The organization raised $150,000 last year and has doubled their goal this year to raise $300,000. Funds from this years campaign will support three major areas: (more…)

Our teams have begun the relief efforts to the Bahamas. Several things are now clear.

1. We are basing our response and supply depot out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE)

2. The Southern Bahamas have more damage which will dictate our flight logistics and we have fuel in several locations in the Northern islands to make the longer runs possible.

3. We are asking our volunteer pilots to obtain supplies locally for their first flight but will need donated funds to purchase additional supplies for the depot over the weekend to fill the returning aircraft. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE ALREADY GIVEN! Your support has provided confidence to our efforts.  Your online donations to Bahamas Habitat are fully Tax Deductible.

Please donate what you can now. Thank YOU!

We are continuing urgent missions to Haiti to deliver water purification systems and stem the cholera outbreak that is killing hundreds of people each week. In addition, we have been granted a $50,000 Challenge Grant for the construction of the Zion Children’s Home Project and we must raise the $50,000 by the end of December!

We have launched our year end fund raising effort entitled: Christmas at Camp Campaign. Here is what we need you to do…

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! - If you have been a participant on a Bahamas Methodist Habitat or Bahamas Habitat mission we need you to be an Ambassador to offer your friends, family and associates an opportunity to support the mission. The secret to our success is for everyone that has been involved in the mission to use our online system to reach out and request pledges of support from their network of friends and associates. You know our motto: “Many Hands Make Light Work!”. Please watch this video and register to help us spread the word!

We need your help to spread the word!

MAKE A DONATION – If you just want to make a personal donation then please Watch this video on how you make a personal donation. How to Donate to the Bahamas Habitat Christmas at Camp Campaign

Please pledge your support today!

The Christmas at Camp Campaign is Back and we need your help!  Its easy and fun. Please click through and register to be an Ambassador with your own personalized fund raising page. You’ll then be able to share the page with your friends by Facebook, Twitter and email so they can learn about the mission and choose to support us.

The campaign is our cornerstone fund raising event each year and this year is the most important ever. We have so many exciting things going on and have set our goal at $150,000.

For all of you that volunteered this year, gave of your time and your treasures We Thank You to the bottom of our hearts!

We hope and trust that your involvement and act of support had a positive and transforming impact on your life. We invite you to continue the journey with us seeking opportunities for service and support by being an Ambassador to help spread the word and provide others the opportunity to support the mission.

2010 has truly been an amazing year for all involved in Bahamas Habitat. More was done in 2010 than would have ever been imagined possible as we closed the year in 2009.

In January 2010 we were blessed and challenged with the opportunity to serve those that suffered from the Haiti earthquake disaster. The generous response of so many volunteers from all over North America was touching and inspiring. I think I can speak for most that were involved and simply say that it was an experience we will never forget. Our involvement in Haiti was a defining moment for our ministry, pressing us to step out in to new vistas of service and explore more of the potential God has for us.

All the while during our response to Haiti our Bahamian operations prepared and attended to the largest volume of mission volunteer teams ever. Over 700 came and served in the Bahamas. Our goal of developing servant leaders with a world view was in full swing in all aspects of our ministry.

Then 2010 was capped off with the exciting launch of the Zion Methodist’s Children’s Home project on Current Island. This is a major project that involves many “moving parts” and will be when completed a further testament to what is possible when people come together with a common purpose. As we like to say, “Many Hands Make Light Work”.

2010 was full of the greatest disasters and the largest outpouring of love I’ve ever seen. I was moved over and over again this year with the generosity, faith and courage of so many who volunteered and participated.  Through out it all it the hand of God has been clearly visible and present. We have no idea exactly what 2011 will bring but we are excited to be a part of serving in every expanding ways.

Everything associated with Bahamas Habitat and Bahamas Methodist Habitat has either been donated, given, shared or paid for with generous donations from our supporters. The success of the mission is solely the result of the generous and continuous support of so many great people.

On behalf of the Bahamas Habitat Board I express our deepest gratitude to each and every volunteer, participant, supporter and donor that have made the wonders of 2010 possible.

Sincerely,

John Armstrong
Chairman & President
Bahamas Habitat
www.bahamashabitat.org