Now that your trip is completed, it’s time to file your mission report. The mission report is a critical part of our process. The mission report is how we know that the flight was completed, and it’s also how we calculate the value of your in-kind donation, and how we provide you with a report on your volunteer activity that you can use for your tax records.
The easiest way to file your mission report is using the mobile app. You can file your report before you leave the cockpit, where you have easy access to your hobbs meter.
This is also your best opportunity to provide us with photos. Photos are a key part of our promotional efforts, so we encourage you to take photos and upload them when you file your mission report. This video provides tips on how to get great photos that work best for our promotional purposes.
Finally, you have the opportunity to provide feedback, which is also a vital way for us to improve. Feedback can also include reporting on any safety concerns.
Filing One Report for Multiple Trips
If you have flown or driven multiple trips in one day, you can file one report to cover multiple mission legs. Common examples include flying or driving a passenger both directions of a trip on one day, or when you have multiple passengers on board for one flight or drive.
To file for multiple trips on the web app, use the Mission Report option in the left navigation. On the mobile app, use the Mission Reports option in My Flights. You’ll see a list of your trips that are missing a mission report. Select the legs you wish to include in your report
If you file a report for multiple mission legs:
- Please don’t file one report for trips on different days. Combined reports should only be for trips on the same day.
- Please don’t file one report for both a flying tip and a driving trip. If you drove the passenger and flew them as well, please file those reports separately.
You can also file reports separately. If you do so, please make sure to split the hours so that the total of the hours/miles you reported among all the mission reports you file matches the hours you flew or the mileage you drove.
Safety Reporting
Reporting is a key aspect of our safety management system (SMS). We encourage you to report any safety concern, even if the concern is related to you. Any safety concerns will be reviewed by our safety committee as a way to make our operation safer. Reporting will always be rewarded and recognized as a reflection of your commitment to safety.
Tax Reporting
Angel Flight West is a 501(c)(3) charity and contributions may be tax deductible. You can download a report showing your volunteer activity from the web portal. Look for the link to the “Year End Report.” While we can’t provide tax advice, we often have connections with volunteers who are tax professionals and may be able to provide you some guidance.
Photos and Passenger Privacy
If the passenger signs our photo release, this does give permission for you to take photos for the organization’s use. You are covered in the photo release as well, but it’s always good practice to ask the passenger specifically if you’re planning to post pictures on your own social media. Personal posts are great for promotion and we encourage it, but only if the passenger has been informed in advance.
Also, we remind you to keep passenger’s personal information private. In the course of your conversations with them, they may have shared personal information with you about their illness, financial circumstances, and so forth. Please don’t share that information with anyone, and be especially careful about what you share in social media posts.