A global virtual aviation charity event supporting GiveDirectly
This holiday season, virtual pilots and virtual airlines are coming together for a journey around the world with one shared purpose: carrying hope farther.
Holiday Skies for Hope is a worldwide holiday-themed virtual aviation event inspired by Santa’s global flight path. Pilots will fly a connected route across every major region of the world, while supporters can sponsor individual legs with a donation of any amount—starting at just $1.
All donations are made directly to GiveDirectly.org. Chernair and participating virtual airlines do not collect, process, or hold donations.
Donate directly to GiveDirectly
How it works
Choose a flight leg
Browse the event route and choose an available leg you would like to sponsor.Donate directly to GiveDirectly
Make a donation of any amount, beginning at $1, through GiveDirectly.org. Your donation goes directly to the charity.Register your sponsored leg
Submit your sponsorship details to the Holiday Skies for Hope team so we can match you with your selected route.A pilot flies your leg
A participating flight simulation pilot completes the leg in the simulator.Receive your flight record
Once the flight is complete, the pilot’s flight data will be sent to you so you can see the journey your donation helped support.Receive donor recognition
Chernair will create a custom FSHub achievement recognizing each donor by name.
Every leg is a small part of a much larger journey: a global aviation community using its shared love of flying to support a meaningful cause.
Donate directly to GiveDirectly
Donation transparency
Holiday Skies for Hope is an independently organized virtual aviation fundraising event in support of GiveDirectly.
All donations are made directly on GiveDirectly.org. Chernair and participating virtual airlines will never ask donors to send money to an airline, staff member, or event organizer.
This allows the event team to focus on organizing flights, matching sponsors with pilots, sharing completed flight data, and recognizing the people who make the event possible—while donations go directly to the charity.
For Chernair pilots
Chernair pilots are at the heart of Holiday Skies for Hope. We are looking for pilots to fly sponsored legs, bring holiday spirit to the virtual skies, and represent our community in this worldwide effort.
You can help by:
Flying one or more available event legs
Completing flights for individual or virtual-airline sponsors
Submitting your completed flight data after each flight
Flying with holiday-themed liveries or festive spirit
Sharing the event with friends and fellow pilots
Encouraging supporters to donate directly to GiveDirectly
You do not need to fly the entire route. Whether you fly one short sector or several long-haul legs, every completed flight helps carry the event forward.
For virtual airlines
Holiday Skies for Hope was started by Chernair, but it is intended to belong to the whole virtual aviation community.
We invite virtual airlines of every size to join us. Bring your pilots, fly event legs, encourage direct donations to GiveDirectly, and help create a truly global holiday event.
Participating virtual airlines can:
Reserve or fly event legs for their pilots
Encourage their members and supporters to sponsor legs
Share the GiveDirectly donation link with their community
Promote the event through their Discord, website, and social media
Take part in holiday group flights and special activities
Receive recognition as a participating virtual airline
There is no requirement to be a large organization. If your virtual airline wants to help, we would be honored to have you involved.
The route
The event follows a Santa-inspired journey around the world, beginning and ending in Rovaniemi, Finland, the hometown of Santa Claus.
The route travels east through Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, North America, Central America, South America, Africa, and back to Northern Europe.
Each route has been planned as a realistic, flyable leg for flight simulation pilots. The journey is divided into batches of 25 legs, allowing sponsors and pilots to take part in manageable sections of the full global relay.
Why GiveDirectly?
The holidays are a time when many of us focus on generosity, family, and community. Yet for many people around the world, meeting basic needs remains a daily challenge.
GiveDirectly provides direct cash support to people living in poverty, allowing recipients to decide what their households need most.
Holiday Skies for Hope encourages our community to support that mission through a simple idea: fly together, give what you can, and turn virtual flights into real-world impact.
A donation of $1 may feel small on its own, but it can make a difference when pilots, sponsors, and virtual airlines come together.
Donate directly to GiveDirectly
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a Chernair pilot to participate?
No. Holiday Skies for Hope welcomes pilots and virtual airlines from across the flight simulation community.
How much does it cost to sponsor a leg?
You can sponsor a leg with a donation of any amount, beginning at $1.
Where does my donation go?
Donations are made directly to GiveDirectly.org. Chernair and participating virtual airlines do not handle donated funds.
What does a sponsor receive?
Sponsors receive the completed flight data for their leg and a custom Chernair FSHub achievement recognizing their contribution.
Can more than one person sponsor a flight?
Yes. Multiple people can support the same leg, and virtual airlines may choose to sponsor groups of legs.
Can I fly a leg without sponsoring it?
Yes. Pilots can volunteer to fly available legs. Donations are welcome but are not required to volunteer as a pilot.
Can our virtual airline participate?
Absolutely. We welcome virtual airlines of all sizes and would be happy to coordinate your participation.
Is Holiday Skies for Hope officially affiliated with GiveDirectly?
Holiday Skies for Hope is independently organized by Chernair and its participating partners in support of GiveDirectly. Donations are made directly through GiveDirectly’s official website.
Join the journey
Whether you fly, sponsor a leg, volunteer, or bring your virtual airline, you can help carry hope around the world.
One route. One global community. One flight at a time.