We’re delighted to announce our Chief Pilot Captain Gary Dyson has been nominated for an Endeavor Award. This prestigious award recognizes pilots who go above and beyond and give back to their communities through volunteering.
With over 40 years of flying experience under his belt, Gary has been an invaluable part of the Orbis family since 2001.
He became our Chief Pilot in 2013, taking our Flying Eye Hospital on an incredible 36 sight-saving missions. He also trains, plans and assigns crews for all Flying Eye Hospital projects flown each year.
Captain Gary Dyson talks about his role as our Chief Pilot in this clip from 2012
Established by Angel Flight West, the Endeavor Awards celebrate and honor volunteer pilots and provide support to the organizations that coordinate their gifts of flight to serve those in need.
This year, two volunteer pilots will be recognized with the 2019 Endeavor Award and receive a grant at the value of $15,000 for the non-profit organization they represent.
One honoree will be chosen by the Endeavor Awards Selection Committee, and the second honoree will be chosen through online voting by the general public.
It means that if Captain Gary wins the award, a donation of $15,000 will go towards ending avoidable blindness.
Put simply - without Captain Gary we wouldn’t be able to leave the runway, let alone spread the gift of sight worldwide.
He ensures our medical team and Orbis staff arrive safely at their destination on the MD-10 so they can teach and train local doctors, nurses and technicians.
Treating blindness is extremely important to him and the most rewarding part of his job is seeing patients regain their sight so they can go on living their normal lives.
He once told us that he will never forget the moment he saw a young blind child get her sight back on his first ever mission.
He’s a brilliant guitar player too and our patients adore him because he entertains them with his musical talents.
He once told us: “Flying has never been just a job for me; it’s an adventure.”
In 2003, Captain Gary received the Humanitarian Award from FedEx for the initial coordination of operational and training support for the Flying Eye Hospital
We’d just like to say a huge congratulations to Gary on this amazing feat and his incredible contribution to our fight against avoidable blindness.
Go Gary! We’re super proud of you.
