Story ID: 
Wheels Up Thinks Pink for October
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Charter membership firm Wheels Up took delivery of a pink King Air that will serve as the flagship of the company's Breast Cancer Awareness initiative.
Word Count: 226
Charter membership firm Wheels Up took delivery of one-of-a-kind, pink Beechcraft King Air 350i from Textron Aviation on Friday that will serve as the flagship of the company's Breast Cancer Awareness initiative. Dubbed the Pink Plane, it is the 45th aircraft in the Wheels Up fleet and will enter revenue service beginning October 1, just in time for the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The aircraft will support Wheel Up’s commitment to raising awareness and funds for the Dubin Breast Center at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Wheels Up will donate a portion of the fees for each new membership in October to the Dubin Breast Center. In addition, the company will have a fly-a-thon to encourage current Wheels Up Members to donate to the Dubin Breast Center for every revenue hour flown by the Pink Plane. Wheels Up Members will also be able to make a one-time donation or pledge a dollar amount of their choice for every revenue hour they fly in October.

Last October, Wheels Up signed up as a partner to the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which arranges for cancer patients to fly free-of-charge using empty business aircraft seats. “Wheels up remains a partner of CAN and we will continue to support the organization and their efforts,” a company spokeswoman told AIN.