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

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

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

  1. HUMANITARIAN PILOTS INITIATIVE www.nobel-righteous-mediterraneansea.info, accessed 20 June 2021
  2. Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Foundation (HPI) www.moneyhouse.ch, accessed 20 June 2021
  3. Projektträger Humanitarian Pilots Initiative Foundation (HPI) stiftungen.stiftungschweiz.ch, accessed 20 June 2021
  4. The Moonbird aircraft 26 November 2018 www.alamy.com, accessed 3 September 2021
  5. 1 2 7 results for Humanitarian Pilots Initiative (HPI) www.jetphotos.com, accessed 20 June 2021
  6. Moonbird & Seabird Civilian aerial reconnaissance mission at the world’s deadliest border sea-watch.org, accessed 17 June 2021
  7. December 2020 update - NGO ships involved in search and rescue in the Mediterranean and legal proceedings against them 18 December 2020, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, fra.europa.eu, accessed 18 May 2021
  8. 1 2 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
  9. 1 2 3 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
  10. German refugee NGO plane looks for the living and the dead 25 October 2018 www.dw.com, accessed 20 June 2021
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. Interview with Tamino Bohm: Sea Watch's head of airborne operations 18 July 2020, morningstaronline.co.uk, accessed 22 June 2021
  14. Sea-Watch Monthly Report 03/2021 www.hpi.swiss, accessed 20 June 2021
  15. 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
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