Alexandria, VA, January 5, 2009 — The Flight Safety Foundation announced today that it is the recipient of a gift of $1 million from the estate of long-time airport fixed base operator (FBO) Manuel Maciel. A portion of the gift will be used to develop ways to improve the safety of helicopter emergency medical services, while the majority will fund the new Manuel S. Maciel Chair for Aviation Safety Research at the Flight Safety Foundation.
"This generous gift from the estate of Mr. Maciel will further advance aviation safety," commented FSF President and CEO William R. Voss. "The research he has funded will drive safety improvements in helicopter emergency medical services for years to come. His contribution will help keep people safe on the worst day of their lives. The research chair funded by Mr. Maciel will ensure that we will always be able to focus resources on the most pressing safety issues."
In addition, the Foundation is pleased to announce that plans are in the works to enlarge this endowment with matching contributions to advance the work of the Manuel S. Maciel Chair for Aviation Safety Research.
Mr. Maciel, a private pilot and an immigrant from the Azores, was a life-long aviation enthusiast who started his 50-year career in California at the Sonoma County Airport fueling airplanes. He went on to own Manny’s Sonoma Aviation, transforming the small fueling service into a full service FBO serving general aviation in Santa Rosa, California, known to aviators all over the western United States.
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Flight Safety Foundation is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to pursue the continuous improvement of global aviation safety and the prevention of accidents.
Contact: Emily McGee, Director of Communications, 1-703-739-6700, ext. 126; mcgee@flightsafety.org