Our Story
Two Pilots. One Mission.
Joe Orr and Nick Rae met in flight school. They had their licenses, their planes, and a question that kept coming up between them: what if we used this for something bigger?
They knew what a general aviation aircraft could do. The range. The access. The speed. And they knew how many animals were dying in overcrowded shelters — how many medical emergencies went unmet simply because getting an animal from point A to point B was impossible by ground.
Runways and Rescues was born from that question. What started as two pilots with a shared purpose has grown into a 501(c)3 nonprofit coordinating volunteer pilots across an international rescue network — flying domestic shelter transfers, international medical rescues, and multi-leg missions that cross borders to save lives.
Every flight is a mission. Every landing is a miracle.
The Founders
Joe Orr & Nick Rae — Co-founders
On the ramp. Ready for takeoff.
What Makes Us Different
We fly where others can't. That's the point.
We fly where others can't
General aviation opens doors commercial transport can't. We reach rural shelters, island communities, and remote regions that ground transport simply can't serve.
Domestic & international
From shelter-to-rescue transfers across state lines to international medical rescue missions — our network spans the US, Bahamas, and Canada.
Multi-leg coordination
Complex rescues often need multiple pilots, multiple legs, and tight coordination. We've built the network to make it happen.
Legal & Tax Status
Runways and Rescues is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Our Partners
Your donation fuels the mission.
Every dollar goes toward saving lives — one flight at a time.
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