Tradewind actively supports various initiatives and organizations as part of our commitment to giving back to the community.
Disaster Relief Flights
Tradewind has provided aid in response to numerous natural disasters throughout the years. Tradewind’s first relief effort was in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina laid waste to New Orleans. We assisted by sending our aircraft to help move high-value workers to hard-to-access locations. Tradewind has also assisted in relief efforts for the Haiti Earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Irma in 2017, transporting medical personnel, generators, and various relief supplies.
Tradewind also partnered with World Central Kitchen to provide aid after the Puerto Rico Earthquake in 2020, the Haiti Earthquake in 2021, and Hurricane Fiona in 2022 to fly food and medical supplies to affected areas.
Earth Day Volunteer Events
In April 2025, members of the Tradewind team in the Northeast and Caribbean partnered with the Town of Oxford and Green VI to clean up the area near our headquarters in Oxford, CT, as well as Taddy Bay in Virgin Gorda, BVI, with an estimated total of 2,510 pounds of trash collected between both locations.
It was a great way to give back, support our communities, and protect the areas where our teams work and operate every day.
Tunison Foundation
The Tunison Foundation, a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, operates its C-47 Placid Lassie to remind and educate people about World War II. They appear in air show events across the nation and lead flights that commemorate significant episodes of World War II history. The foundation is named after Ed Tunison, who was the Radio Operator on their C-47 Placid Lassie during the war. Ed passed in 2016, and the Tunison Foundation was created and named in his honor in 2017.
Tradewind Aviation’s CEO and Co-Founder Eric Zipkin currently serves as the President of the Tunison Foundation. Several other Tradewind team members are also actively involved in the foundation.
Tango Whiskey Squadron
Tango Whiskey Squandon is a disaster relief organization formed by Tradewind team members in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The organization’s name is derived from the phonetic alphabet of Tradewind aircraft tail numbers (TW). This organization has helped to rebuild and provide aid to many communities affected by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Maria in 2020 and Hurricane Fiona in 2022.
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Tradewind is a proud partner of National Breast Cancer Foundation, which is recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world. NBCF provides early detection, education, and support services to those affected by breast cancer.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, along with a contribution to NBCF, all Tradewind aircraft display the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Pink Ribbon to reinforce the importance of awareness in screening for early detection and education of breast cancer. Additionally, Tradewind pilot and ground crew uniforms include pink epaulettes and pins from flyPinkUSA, a charity partner that donates 80% of its proceeds to NBCF.
RedTail Flight Academy
Tradewind is proud to support RedTail Flight Academy by providing a scholarship to a pilot-in-training for their 2023-2024 year. This scholarship will allow the recipient to have access to RedTail’s flight training program with the goal of earning their commercial pilot’s license.
RedTail Flight Academy, located in New York at Stewart International Airport (SWF), is a Tuskegee Airmen-inspired organization with the goal of providing a pipeline to aviation careers for underrepresented people of color.
Gift Certificate Donations
Tradewind donates gift certificates to numerous charitable organizations each year, who apply the auctioned profit to different causes such as Autism Speaks, United Way, Nantucket Preservations, St. Jude, the American Red Cross, and more.
If you would like Tradewind to consider donating to your organization, please fill out our donation request form.