Angel Flights...?

[MarineGrunt]

Has anyone here done some Angel Flights? What were your experiences. Is it worth it? I'm thinking about doing some in the SLC area starting in Dec.

Thanks for your input.

 

[cessna_driver2]

My company does a lot with angel flight out of OJC in kc. It seems to be a really well rounded organization.

I haven't flown with them, but talked with several pilots who have and they have had nothing but good to say about it.

If I had access to a plane I would do it, but at 100/hour it gets way expansive to help in that aspect.

 

[flywithastick]

Done several myself. Nice for building time (multi!), great cause, very rewarding. Would do one a week if I had a bigger plane or money to keep renting the twin.

Anyone have a nice Seneca, Seminole, Dutchess, etc. they wouldn't mine loaning me for these flights? I'll buy the gas. Bet you could write off the time as charitable donation!

 

[cessna_driver2]

Angel Flight and motorcycles

If anyone is around Kansas City on 27 sept with a motorcycle.

September 27, 2003
Saturday
11:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Angel Flight Ride For Life
All proceeds benefit Angel Flight Central of Greater Kansas City.
Celebrating 100 years of Aviation and 100 years of Harley Davidson Start and end at Kansas City Aviation Center
Johnson County Executive Airport. www.kcac.com/events.cfm
Angel Flight Central (816) 421-2300
Bill Hutting: (913) 593-6911

http://www.kcbiker.com/scheduled.shtml

 

[MarineGrunt]

they have had nothing but good to say about it.

Did they have anything bad to say about it?

there was a guy around here that did one, and he said he would never do it again. He said the people that he flew were talking about a trip to the Bahamas that they were going on later... I'm sure he was pi$$ed.

 

[Toy Soldier]

www.angelflightse.org

Here is the link to Angel Flight of Florida. I do between 35 and 70 hours a year and have enjoyed EVERY moment.

I have poster-sized frames with pics of all of my patients. Some of my patients have since passed on. It's a worthy organization. You can get attached to the patients - and then get invited to their funerals later.... It does happen. However, I do get lots of hugs, tears of thanks, etc.

I flew three grief counselors back from New York - they were helping out after the WTC tragedy.

I have flown children to the elderly, some with oxygen, others with "ports" in their chests - it's all good though.

I am also a "redeye" pilot. This means that I do transplant flights in the middle of the night. I have only done one of those this year though.

Good luck. Thanks for your interest. I am also a AFSE pilot recruiter...

 

[JimNtexas]

I've done a number of Angel flights, I try to do one a quarter. I either use my own Archer, or I rent a Cessna 182.

Angel Flight ( http://www.angelflightamerica.org/ ) is one of a number of "public benefit" flying organizations in the United States. Operations are run by regional organizations. I fly in the Angel Flight South Central ( http://www.angelflightsc.org ) program.

South Central is really well run, and their rules are very reasonable. No checkout required or fees to the pilots. There is an experience requirement that is pretty low. You and your airplane have to be fully current and qualified, and you have to have insurance. In South Central, if you are not IFR rated then you have to have an IFR backup pilot available in order for you to schedule a mission. Other regions may have different requirements.

I've never had a big problem, and I find it very rewarding.

A lot of Angel Flight pax have never been in an airplane, let alone a GA airplane. Others have done a lot of GA flying and understand all about it. Not everyone is sick, I've flown Doctors down to South Texas where they were doing volunteer work on the border.

Be sure you watch your weight and balance, be very conservative in this respect. There are some really heavy people out there.

I had one flight where the two passengers were small women, but they had literally a steamer trunk of stuff. Fortunately, I was in a C-182, an Archer would not have hacked it.

Angel Flight South Central publishes passenger weights in the schedule and allows them fifty pounds for baggage.

A lot of my passengers are getting recurring treatment, and seem in good shape (except for maybe being bald). I've only one, an accident victim, that was really hurting. I've had one or two fairly elderly folks who had a little trouble getting into the Archer, but they were ok once they got settled. They are supposed to have approval of their doctor to travel.

I have water available for them on hot days and blankets when its cold. I'll always take them to the smooth air regardless of headwinds, they tend to not react well to turbulence and heat.

The passengers don't have to be poor.

I used to fly a lot of blood and tissue, but those missions seem to have dried up this year. I've heard that some guys have flown "helping animals", including a bird hunting falcon for an airport.

You have to be ready to tell them that you can't take them because of weather or mechanical problems. I have 100% dispatch reliability, but once I was supposed to take a passenger from San Antonio to Dallas, where another pilot was to take them to Oklahoma City. The second pilot's plane broke, so I went ahead and took her all the way, although I was under no obligation to do so. When I take a mission that involves a handoff, I have all the charts available to fly to the final destination. I am under no obligation to carry them on, but I don't want to leave a passenger in an FBO somewhere if I can help it. I'll take them for the full trip if I possibly can.

Most FBOs are really supportive, and are generous with fuel discounts, crew cars, and passenger loading and unloading assistance.

The direct operating costs of an Angel Flight are tax deductible. When I rent, I take the full rental cost. I am a partner in my Archer, so I deduct the hourly wet rate, but not any part of the monthly fixed cost fee.

There is no problem with flying these missions as a Part 91 private flight, hanger lawyer BS to the contrary.

 

[jsoceanlord]

some other organizations;

airlifeline (from sacramento, calif)

flying doctors

i think the coast guard even once had an auxiliary air patrol

sheriff's air patrol

 

[Pilotadjuster]

Angel Flight

The Utah Wing of Angel Flight seems very well run. Unfortunately I haven't had the $ to offer my services (at current rental rates, most flights would end up around $1,000 for just RT SLC-BOI-SLC).

Also might check into miracle flights for kids www.miracleflights.org. They called me for a flight about four months ago, but couldn't raise the funds at the time to fly an 18 month old from Nampa to SLC for a stint at Primary Childrens.

Would love to get involved once I have funds to donate. I cannot think of a better way to give back to GA than to participate in either organization.

Angel Flight of Utah also does a flight around Christmas to the Indian Reservation near Blanding, UT, with loads of toys for the children there (weather permitting - they got stuck in Moab last year and had to truck the toys in).

 

[Toy Soldier]

Pilotadjuster

1. Can't you team up with other pilots in your area and share flights? Angel Flight should be able to give you the names of local pilots.

2. How about finding someone to let you use their plane? I recruited about 10 pilots in the last two years and most of them have their own planes.

3. Better yet, sweet talk the local FBO owner (if she's a woman!) so she'll let you use the plane. I did this for awhile. The lady that owned the school got all into helping me out - she had a tender heart. All I had to do was put in gas. I then had AFSE give her an award for volunteering her plane.

Good luck.

 

[Pilotadjuster]

Angel Flight

Thanks for the suggestions;

Tried the FBO thing--no dice. Almost no students or renters, they all have trouble staying in business, let alone donating or discounting flight time.

My main problem is I need to spend more time around the airport and just don't have it with a full time job, children, etc. I know a few aircraft owners, but certainly not enough. The teaming up idea is great, but my ratings (single only) and available aircraft make it pretty difficult to get everyone in the airplane for one of these flights.

Anyway, always an excuse I suppose (you're and old Army guy too--remember the old "just make it happen"...) I'll keep workin on it as I make time.

Thanks again and fly safe!

 

[LXApilot]

angel flight

I have done around 10 missions for Angel Flight and always enjoy the experience. It is a great charitable organization run by some of the most genuine people I have ever met. On one of my first Angel Flights I flew a young mother and her baby from PDK-MEM in a Cessna 182, kid slept the whole way and the mom was a great passenger. Felt good to get them home and know that I was helping make life a little better for them through something I love to do so much. I always bring a few blankets and drinks and cookies and things as well as a magazine or two. I've gotten thank-you letters from all of my passengers - if I had more money I'd fly Angel Flight's every single day! Probably one of the most personally rewarding flights you can take.

 

[midlifeflyer]

some other organizations;

airlifeline (from sacramento, calif)

Angel Flight and AirLifeline merged recently.

The only problem with Angel Flight is that you feel so good after doing one, that you feel guilty.

http://www.midlifeflight.com/devyn.htm