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How did this all start?
On 7th December 1994, a group of pilots got together in Frankfurt Germany to set up the “Mayday Foundation”. The purpose of this charitable organization was to support aviators and their families through times of crisis. This support is available regardless of cause, blame or judicial outcome. The Foundation has deliberately selected as its name the emergency call used in aviation: Mayday. Anyone transmitting this call is entitled to expect immediate assistance.
The impetus for the founding of the organization was a fatal accident at Berlin-Schönefeld airport in 1994 involving Russian test pilot Alexander S. Vyatkin who died without leaving any provision for his family. The Foundation has the support of many organizations and companies working within the German and international aviation industry.
The Mayday Foundation maintains a network of care-persons. Pilots, flight attendants as well as professional psychologists who are trained in providing support after critical or highly stressful incidents and/or accidents (see CISM -Critical Incident Stress Management).
The funds available to the Foundation initially consisted of the 35,000 Deutsch Marks raised during the airshow. This sum was invested according to very strict legal criteria and the original capital remains intact. Aid is provided from the revenue it generates. Over and above these funds, every donation we receive goes directly towards providing help. All donations qualify for tax exemption, as Mayday Foundation USA is a tax-exempt 501-c-3 organization.
The original foundation established in Germany is known as "Stiftung Mayday," and is one of many independent chapters established throughout the world. The organization in the United States is known as Mayday Foundation USA. It was started and is now administered by two retired US airline pilots, Janet and Steven Wright.
On 7th December 1994, a group of pilots got together in Frankfurt Germany to set up the “Mayday Foundation”. The purpose of this charitable organization was to support aviators and their families through times of crisis. This support is available regardless of cause, blame or judicial outcome. The Foundation has deliberately selected as its name the emergency call used in aviation: Mayday. Anyone transmitting this call is entitled to expect immediate assistance.
The impetus for the founding of the organization was a fatal accident at Berlin-Schönefeld airport in 1994 involving Russian test pilot Alexander S. Vyatkin who died without leaving any provision for his family. The Foundation has the support of many organizations and companies working within the German and international aviation industry.
The Mayday Foundation maintains a network of care-persons. Pilots, flight attendants as well as professional psychologists who are trained in providing support after critical or highly stressful incidents and/or accidents (see CISM -Critical Incident Stress Management).
The funds available to the Foundation initially consisted of the 35,000 Deutsch Marks raised during the airshow. This sum was invested according to very strict legal criteria and the original capital remains intact. Aid is provided from the revenue it generates. Over and above these funds, every donation we receive goes directly towards providing help. All donations qualify for tax exemption, as Mayday Foundation USA is a tax-exempt 501-c-3 organization.
The original foundation established in Germany is known as "Stiftung Mayday," and is one of many independent chapters established throughout the world. The organization in the United States is known as Mayday Foundation USA. It was started and is now administered by two retired US airline pilots, Janet and Steven Wright.