Humanitarian Pilots Initiative (HPI) is an NGO with charitable aims, with registered headquarters in Rehetobel, Switzerland. Its stated aim is to provide a focus for 'committed pilots and supporters who use their abilities for humanitarian purposes – regardless of politics, religion, ethnicity or nationality'.[1][2][3]
Assets edit
Since 2017, in the central Mediterranean, HPI in conjunction with Sea-Watch have operated a SAR-coordinating reconnaissance aircraft, Moonbird,[4] a single-engined Cirrus SR22 (registration HB-KMM),[5] and since June 2020, also the Seabird, a twin-engined high-performance Beechcraft Baron 58 (registration HB-GMM).[6][7][5]
Activities edit
In July 2018, Malta blocked Moonbird operations by HPI and Sea-Watch, following an incident between Italy, Malta and the charity ship Lifeline.[8] The Times of Malta reported that HPI had been "involved in rescue of 20,000 people".[8] The blockade lasted three months.[9][10]
In June 2020, during 14 missions, 21 boats were spotted, and more than 940 migrants in distress.[11]
In July 2020, pictures from the Moonbird showed ships apparently ignoring a vessel in distress over a period of 40 hours.[12]
On another sortie in July 2020, observers on the Moonbird gathered evidence suggesting the involvement of Armed Forces of Malta in refoulement by the Libyan coastguard.[13]
In September 2020, the Italian Civil Aviation authority grounded Moonbird; operations restarted in November 2020.[9]
In March 2021, by their own estimates, HPI flew 9 missions, during which a total of some 476 people were observed in distress on 7 boats.[14]
In June 2021, HPI's two aircraft were operating from Lampedusa, on the island of Sicily.[9] Both aircraft were still operational in December 2021.[15]
References edit
- ^ "HUMANITARIAN PILOTS INITIATIVE – THE RIGHTEOUS OF THE MED SEA". www.nobel-righteous-mediterraneansea.info (in Italian). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Foundation (HPI)". www.moneyhouse.ch. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Projektträger Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Foundation (HPI)". stiftungen.stiftungschweiz.ch. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "The Moonbird aircraft". www.alamy.com. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ a b "7 results for Humanitarian Pilots Initiative (HPI)". www.jetphotos.com. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ^ "Moonbird & Seabird; Civilian aerial reconnaissance mission at the world's deadliest border". sea-watch.org. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ^ "December 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them". European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, fra.europa.eu. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
- ^ a b Malta blocks humanitarian aircraft- Aircraft involved in rescue of 20,000 people not allowed to operate 4 July 2018 timesofmalta.com, accessed 20 June 2021
- ^ a b c June 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights 18 June 2021 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, fra.europa.eu, accessed 20 June 2021
- ^ German refugee NGO plane looks for the living and the dead 25 October 2018 www.dw.com, accessed 20 June 2021
- ^ Mediterranean: 'With the Seabird and Moonbird humanitarian aircraft, we have spotted 20,000 migrants in distress at sea' 2020/07/10 www.infomigrants.net, accessed 22 June 2021
- ^ Italian coastguard and cargo ship ‘ignored stricken migrant boat’ "Aerial pictures by NGO show vessels a mile away from migrants left drifting for more than 40 hours" 15 July 2020 www.theguardian.com, accessed 20 June 2021
- ^ Interview with Tamino Bohm: Sea Watch's head of airborne operations 18 July 2020, morningstaronline.co.uk, accessed 22 June 2021
- ^ Sea-Watch Monthly Report 03/2021 www.hpi.swiss, accessed 20 June 2021
- ^ December 2021 Update – Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean and fundamental rights 17 December 2021, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, fra.europa.eu, accessed 2 January 2022
External links edit
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