The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR)

An article from Mike McFarlane, Kew Rotary

Fellowship is a word very frequently used in Rotary circles, but how many new, or even long-term. Members are aware of the many “Rotary Fellowships” available; some 100 at last count! Another one of Rotary’s best kept secrets?  Rotary Fellowships are friendly, independent social groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to extend your Rotary friendships both here and abroad.

The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR) is a group of Rotarians dedicated to promoting aviation as an opportunity for fellowship and service. This fellowship operates in accordance with Rotary international policy but is not an agency of or controlled by Rotary International.  It is one of the oldest Rotary Fellowships and was formally established in Seattle, USA on 1st January 1965, and for 60 years has facilitated Rotary aviation friendships all around the world.

 

Membership ranges from aspiring aviators who simply must look up when an aircraft passes overhead to Air traffic controllers, engineers, aircrew, a balloonist, glider pilots and of course many general aviation pilots. Some are active, some retired, some wishing to retire, others just wishing to be more involved by participating in aviation activities with like-minded people.  Joining IFFR is an ideal way to experience aviation, provide service in the wider community and enjoy lots of fun and fellowship.  Membership also provides a great opportunity to enjoy FlyIns twice a year in your home state, or around our big country as well as participate in IFFR events organised around the globe.

 

FlyIns are organised to interesting destinations where members can travel flying their own aircraft, hiring one, taking a commercial flight or via road.  FlyIns incorporate executive meetings, are normally brief, typically held on the Friday evening and followed by fellowship. Fellowship continues all day weekend; usually a coach tour of the local area and sharing a Saturday night dinner with fellow aviators and a local Rotary Club. Hundreds of events have been held over the years in many of the sixty countries where Flying Rotarians reside.  Globally, there are around 1,100 IFFR members, mostly active Rotarians, who proudly wear their IFFR “Wings”, spreading the word about Rotary linked to their passion for aviation. 

 

Post the RI Convention 2025 in Taipei, there was a flyAway to Hong Kong and Mongolia. Other international gatherings recently included a flyAway in Europe in 2024, the Rocky Mountains flyAway and Palm Springs in the USA plus Dusseldorf in Germany in 2025.

 

In countries such as North America and Australia, where the distances are great and towns remote, IFFR pilots have used their own aircraft to help with aero-medical aid, flying regularly with organisations such as Angel Flight, AirCare Alliance USA; often offering transportation as required in one-off emergencies. The concept of flying to benefit the public provides a service to those who are financially or geographically disadvantaged and helps alleviate the distress of travelling long distances for ongoing medical or surgical services; reinforcing Rotary’s enduring motto of providing “Service above Self”. At the same time, it increases the public image of IFFR and Rotary within regional communities.

International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians on a trip to Belgium
Mike (top second from left) with other Flying Rotarians and partners
Mike with a patient on an Angel Flight in Victoria
Young patient and his Mum flying with Mike, Angel Flight

According to Kew Rotarian and IFFR World President 2024-26 Mike McFarlane, “There is no better form of flying for a pilot than Angel Flight where you can enjoy your passion for aviation and at the same time make a real and visible difference to another person in need of ongoing medical help”. Angel Flight has completed 66,000 medical flights around Australia since its inception in 2003; all absolutely free to the recipients due to the more than 8,000 volunteers providing their own aircraft and piloting skills.  Mike is a regular Angel Flight volunteer pilot having completed some 120 missions.

 

A recent IFFR global initiative has been to introduce young people to the wonderful world of aviation.  In 2023, IFFR Australia launched a Flying Scholarship in memory of Rotarian Brian Condon, a past member and former IFFR World President. The concept was to foster an interest in aviation as a career or hobby, within the context of Rotary’s many Youth initiatives. Applications could only be made through, and with the support of, a local Rotary Club.  IFFR provided a Flying Scholarship to the value of $5,000 as a initial contribution towards the successful applicant’s Recreational Pilot Licence; a first step in obtaining their Private or Commercial Pilot Licence. To quote Mike, “The sky is the limit”.

 

Mike has been a private pilot for most of his adult life. On retirement, he up-skilled to a Commercial Pilot License as part of a personal growth wish-list to improve his aviation knowledge and flying skills.  He started flying when he was 17 and has held multi-engine endorsements, and a Multi-Engine Command Instrument Rating with around 2,500 hour’s experience. In 1989 he decided to really get in at the deep end and purchased his first aircraft, a 1979 Cessna 337G, known as “Charlie” or as he called, it the “push me, pull you aircraft” in reference to the Dr. Doolittle books. Over the years Mike has owned a handful of aircraft from the Cessna 337G to most recently a Cirrus SR22 G6 “Australis” which he says provides quality, finish, avionics and capabilities to make every flight a new learning experience.

 

For more information on IFFR and Angel Flight: