On 7th December 1994, a group of pilots got together in Frankfurt am Main to set up the "Mayday Foundation". The purpose of this charitable organization was to support aviators and their families through times of crisis. This support is both material and spiritual in nature and is forthcoming regardless of cause, blame or judicial outcome. The Foundation has deliberately selected as its name the emergency call used in aviation: Mayday. Anyone transmitting this call is entitled to expect immediate assistance.

Our aim is to help our clients help themselves.

Pilots attending a briefing at the 1994 ILA who then went on to set up the Mayday Foundation.

The Mayday Foundation maintains a network of qualified psychologists and colleagues who have themselves suffered similar experiences to give support after critical or highly stressful incidents and/or accidents (see CISM  -Critical Incident Stress Management).

The funds available to the Foundation essentially consist of the 35,000 DM raised during the 1994 ILA. This sum was invested according to very strict legal criteria and the original capital remains intact. Aid is provided from the revenue it generates. Over and above these funds, every donation we receive goes directly towards providing help. All donations qualify for tax relief, as we are a registered charity.

Any donations made as endowments come under a special category. These are also classed as donations for tax purposes but they increase the basic capital and must be invested long term. Only the revenue from these endowments may be used for the Foundation's charitable work, so this makes it possible for us to make long-term reliable plans for our projects and commitments.

The Honorary Board consists of the pilots Alice Deininger, Dr. Gerhard Fahnenbruck, Alexander Frank, Hans Rahmann and the lawyer Ralf A. Schäfer. Honorary Executive Director is Günther Schweser.

The Mayday Foundation is a member of 

We feel sure we can count on your support and will be pleased to accept your donation, no matter how large or small:

 Account No: 4440, Frankfurter Sparkasse (Sort code 50050201)
IBAN: DE36 5005 0201 0000 0044 40, SWIFT-BIC.: FRASDEFFXXX