In contrast, general aviation serves 13,000 US airports and thousands more heliports and seaplane facilities. Every day, general aviation transports blood supplies, vital organs for transplant, and critically ill patients to hospitals and treatment centers.
Many pilots volunteer their time and aircraft for humanitarian missions.
Specially equipped general aviation aircraft are used to conduct wildlife surveys, map wetland losses and soil erosion, follow bird migrations, inspect oil and gas pipelines, and fight forest fires. Light planes and helicopters have revolutionized law enforcement and are used to patrol highways, apprehend suspects, back up ground units, monitor borders, and locate lost children. The aircraft are used, as well, in airborne traffic reports to television and radio and their millions of commuting listeners. Urban planners and engineers use them to conduct aerial surveys for road and building projects. General aviation flies important documents and overnight packages to offices, factories and individuals.