But You Don't Have To Wait Until Next Year ...

Amidst all the candy, hearts, and flowers that are the usual Valentine's Day fare, as a pilot, you might have gotten a random hug from a friend or stranger. While enjoyable, it might have left you scratching your head just a bit. Well, (dandruff aside) ... scratch no more.

Guidance Aviation, an FAA approved Part 141 helicopter flight training organization with schools in Prescott, Arizona and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, proclaimed February 14th #HugAPilot day. From the company blog:

We want them in that cockpit. We need them in that cockpit. So Get to the Chopper and #HugAPilot.
They take us to play one day and save our lives the next. They find us hopeless in cold dark waters. They rescue us from unforgiving wilderness. They hunt down bad guys day and night, ensuring our safety and freedom. Each day, they modestly accept our thanks as we exit their magic flying machines, waving at them as they pass majestically overhead. But, what our pilots really deserve is a GINORMOUS HUG! Valentine’s Day means it’s time for #HugAPilot Sweepstakes!

The rules were to have a picture taken of you hugging a pilot, and posting it to the company's Facebook page. The prize for the "best pics" was "a $100 Gift Card to purchase whatever your heart desires and (2) EACH of the following for you and your pilot: Guidance Aviation hoodie, GA t-shirt, and GA window sticker."

We're almost afraid to tell you that the contest was only open for February 14th ... and miss out on all those hugs. But we guess there's always next year.

(Image from #HugAPilot YouTube video)

FMI: https://www.facebook.com/GuidanceAviation