New York, NY - Saab Automobile USA announced that it has signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Angel Flight America to support and promote the charity's urgent air transportation services.

Angel Flight America (AFA), the country's largest aviation-related charitable organization, received a check for $75,000 from Saab Automobile USA at a ceremony prior to the opening of the New York International Auto Show in New York City. Saab will also donate the use of six of its 9-7X midsize sport utility vehicles for one year to be used by the organization's "Earth Angels."

Angel Flight America flies over 90 percent of all medical/emergency "mercy flights" in the United States. AFA pilots, flying their own or rented aircraft, pay all the expenses associated with the flight. In 2005 alone, these pilots contributed over $25,000,000 as they flew some 23,000 missions carrying over 57,000 people, many of whom would otherwise have had no access to the urgent care they needed.

"Every thirty minutes of every day, an AFA aircraft departs on a mission to take someone in need to a specialized hospital for the evaluation, diagnosis or treatment of their illness," said Ken Rusnak, executive director of Angel Flight America. "Saab's generous gift will be applied across the Angel Flight organization to help us defray our costs and continue our vital services."

Angel Flight America came to the aid of thousands during the 2005 hurricane season. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, AFA pilots flew 2,130 missions and moved over 5,200 people. These missions included bringing in relief crews and flying out patients in need of dialysis and cancer treatments, insulin injections and neo-natal critical care. They also flew missions to reunite families separated by the storm and to relocate families to new homes and jobs.

Angel Flight missions are requested by patients, doctors or social workers and posted on the website of one of AFA's six operating regions. The volunteer pilots then choose the missions that best fit their aircraft's capabilities and personal schedule. Once assigned a mission, the patient is contacted and the flight from pickup to delivery is planned by the pilot.

Upon arrival at its destination, AFA's volunteer companion group, "Earth Angels," use their personal vehicles - and now, the Saab 9-7X's -- to meet the patient at the airport, drive him or her to the hospital and then pick them up again for their return flight. "The Earth Angels are keys to making the patient's trip as seamless as possible, and they really take a load off their minds," says Rusnak.

"Angel Flight America provides a crucial service to people in need and Saab is proud to support their efforts," says Saab USA General Manager Jay Spenchian. "Saab customers are traditionally very socially responsible and it is very important for Saab to be a good corporate citizen. By partnering with Angel Flight, we can give back to the community in a way that complements our aircraft heritage."

Saab will co-partner with Angel Flight America in all of its 2006 marketing activities. The group's name, logo and contact information will be included in all Saab advertising, sales promotion and point of sale material. Saab's consumer website, www.saabusa.com, will contain links to the Angel Flight America website, www.angelflightamerica.org, to help raise awareness of the organization and its lifesaving mission.

Saab is a division of General Motors Corp. Saab Automobile USA is the importer and distributor of Saab 9-2X, 9-3, 9-5 cars and the 9-7X SUV for Saab Automobile AB, Sweden.