Angel Flight
Encyclopedia
Angel Flight is the name used by a number of groups whose members provide free transportation for needy patients and perform other missions of community service. Such a non-profit organization
may be located in the United States
, Europe
, Australia
, or Canada
and they, like other Public Benefit Flying (PBF) organizations, help arrange free, non-emergency transportation for patients who require medical treatment but who cannot afford
to pay for a commercial flight. Transportation is provided by volunteer pilots
, often using their own private general aviation
aircraft
. In most of Canada, the Volunteer Pilot Program of Hope Air
provides a similar service, along with Angel Flight of Vancouver.
A list of all the Angel Flight and other Public Benefit Flying Organizations is maintained by the Air Care Alliance.
who are willing to provide free flights as a charity
.
Angel Flight volunteers typically serve patients who require specialized medical treatment at a facility far from their homes—for example, a clinic that has expertise in the treatment of a particular form of a disease. In some cases, other compelling human needs are served, such as transportation to visit a hospitalized family member, or transportation helping in time of emergencies or disasters. Many of the public benefit flying groups helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for example.
The Angel Flight process usually begins when a referring health professional, usually a social worker, contacts an Angel Flight organization. The referrer describes the points between which transportation is needed, the total number of people and weight, and the condition of the patient.
Not every patient is eligible for transportation. For example, patients usually must be medically stable and capable of walking on their own and sitting upright unassisted. The flight must also not be for treatment of a medical emergency
, because weather or other factors may cause last-minute cancellation of the flight. Often a doctor's signoff is required. Therefore, these flights are not considered to be air ambulance services.
If the flight request is deemed appropriate then information concerning the date, source, destination, and total passenger count is added to an "available mission list" on that Angel Flight web site or other notification list. Pilot volunteers periodically check the mission list and can assign themselves to a mission that is appropriate to their aircraft and schedule.
Pilots have a variety of reasons for volunteering for Angel Flight missions. Most do so simply because they enjoy flying, and because providing charity
transportation is more constructive than getting the proverbial $100 hamburger
or "drilling holes in the sky" (flying just for the sake of flying). The aircraft operating expenses are also generally tax-deductible
(not in Australia however).
Formed in Santa Monica, California, Angel Flight of California, now known as Angel Flight West, and formed in Atlanta, Georgia, Angel Flight Georgia, were the first two organizations formed under the name.
s are similar to angel flights in that both
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
may be located in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, or Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and they, like other Public Benefit Flying (PBF) organizations, help arrange free, non-emergency transportation for patients who require medical treatment but who cannot afford
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
to pay for a commercial flight. Transportation is provided by volunteer pilots
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, often using their own private general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
. In most of Canada, the Volunteer Pilot Program of Hope Air
Hope Air
Hope Air is Canada's national charity dedicated to serving Canadians in financial need by providing free air transportation to recognized facilities for medical care not available in the patient's home community.Hope Air has three different programs:...
provides a similar service, along with Angel Flight of Vancouver.
A list of all the Angel Flight and other Public Benefit Flying Organizations is maintained by the Air Care Alliance.
How Angel Flight Works
The Angel Flight organizations themselves do not provide the transportation. Instead, each acts as a "matchmaker," connecting people who have a compelling need for transportation but can not afford it with individual pilotsAviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
who are willing to provide free flights as a charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
.
Angel Flight volunteers typically serve patients who require specialized medical treatment at a facility far from their homes—for example, a clinic that has expertise in the treatment of a particular form of a disease. In some cases, other compelling human needs are served, such as transportation to visit a hospitalized family member, or transportation helping in time of emergencies or disasters. Many of the public benefit flying groups helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, for example.
The Angel Flight process usually begins when a referring health professional, usually a social worker, contacts an Angel Flight organization. The referrer describes the points between which transportation is needed, the total number of people and weight, and the condition of the patient.
Not every patient is eligible for transportation. For example, patients usually must be medically stable and capable of walking on their own and sitting upright unassisted. The flight must also not be for treatment of a medical emergency
Medical emergency
A medical emergency is an injury or illness that is acute and poses an immediate risk to a person's life or long term health. These emergencies may require assistance from another person, who should ideally be suitably qualified to do so, although some of these emergencies can be dealt with by the...
, because weather or other factors may cause last-minute cancellation of the flight. Often a doctor's signoff is required. Therefore, these flights are not considered to be air ambulance services.
If the flight request is deemed appropriate then information concerning the date, source, destination, and total passenger count is added to an "available mission list" on that Angel Flight web site or other notification list. Pilot volunteers periodically check the mission list and can assign themselves to a mission that is appropriate to their aircraft and schedule.
Angel Flight Pilots
Angel Flight missions are made possible by pilots who volunteer their time, their skills, and the funds required for aircraft operating expenses. Many pilots provide Angel Flights in their own personal aircraft, although some do so using rented aircraft. Pilots must usually meet certain minimum flight experience requirements before they are allowed to command an Angel Flight mission. They also receive training on the special procedures required for Angel Flight.Pilots have a variety of reasons for volunteering for Angel Flight missions. Most do so simply because they enjoy flying, and because providing charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
transportation is more constructive than getting the proverbial $100 hamburger
$100 Hamburger
$100 hamburger is aviation slang for a general aviation pilot needing an excuse to fly.A $100 hamburger trip typically involves flying a short distance , eating at an airport restaurant, and flying home...
or "drilling holes in the sky" (flying just for the sake of flying). The aircraft operating expenses are also generally tax-deductible
Tax deduction
Income tax systems generally allow a tax deduction, i.e., a reduction of the income subject to tax, for various items, especially expenses incurred to produce income. Often these deductions are subject to limitations or conditions...
(not in Australia however).
History of Angel Flight
Angel Flight's first organizations under that name were founded in 1983.Formed in Santa Monica, California, Angel Flight of California, now known as Angel Flight West, and formed in Atlanta, Georgia, Angel Flight Georgia, were the first two organizations formed under the name.
Related
Fantasy flightFantasy flight
Fantasy flights are charity flights operated by a host airline for locally disadvantaged and terminally ill children to fly to a fictitious destination.The destination is often the North Pole, the home of Santa Claus' workshop...
s are similar to angel flights in that both
- fly severely or terminally ill patients, often children
- are flown by pilots who personally provide their services without financial recompense
- and operate as organized by non-profit organization(s) sometimes with sponsor(s)
Sources
- Angel Flight Southeast-
- Air Care Alliance - listing all known Public Benefit Flying Organizations
- Angel Flight of Georgia - Angel Flight Organization
- Angel Flight West - Second Oldest Angel Flight Organization
- Angel Flight Australia
- A national Patient Air Transport Helpline
- Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic
- Air Charity Network
- Mercy Flight Southeast
- Grace Flight America, formarly Angel Flight SW