Above and beyond: Europeans behind huge air relief effort for Ukraine
As Kay Wolf and Stephan Sahling watched the news of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine unfold on 24 February, the two German IT security experts immediately sprung to action.
The long-time friends have several passions in common, but it was their shared love of aviation — Sahling is a pilot of more than 15 years and Wolf an enthusiast — that made them devise a plan on the spot.
They would use small, privately owned aircraft to fly as close to Ukraine as possible to deliver much-needed aid.
“After a few days (following the invasion), Stephan called me and asked me how I was doing, because he knows I served 10 years in the army and I have seen a lot of things of what the war can do to soldiers and civilians alike,” Wolf told Euronews.
“We talked about the situation, whether we could make donations, or how we could really help.”
“Both of us come from manufacturing, so we know processes very well. We are also working in IT for 20-30 years, so we know the tools, and we can fly.”
The duo immediately started making calls to other pilots and aircraft owners, enlisting friends and friends of friends.
In just a couple of days, Ukraine Air Rescue was born — and airborne.
What they originally thought would be a small-time operation much akin to a local flying club grew to a large-scale operation involving 381 registered pilots from almost all continents, Wolf told Euronews.
The planes, some lent by those who could not participate in themselves, range from two-seater Cirruses and French propeller-nosed Robins to much larger Pilatus PC-12s and everything in between.
Everyone is a volunteer, Wolf emphasised. Some donate funds, while others share piloting knowledge.
Others are volunteering their skill and experience behind the stick —
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