East Tennessee’s best source for regional General Aviation news, trip reports and resources

 

Newsletters     Photo Gallery   GuestBook   Calendar   Classifieds   Flyout Schedule    Useful Links    Updated 

                                          Direction of the Day , Angel Flight, Mission 061645                                                                   

                                          By Max Grogan

                                                 Columnist

 

Flying for fun is just that: A fun way to enjoy the sensations of flight and often the exploration of new places as well! Those of us with access to airplanes are fortunate to be able to lift off into the sky and point our propeller spinner in the chosen direction of the day. This year my plane has taken me into or over more than forty states. My travels have taken me to Key West, Seattle, Bar Harbor and many other places in between. The travel is in comfort with a fair measure of style. I am the owner of a Beechcraft Bonanza V35B. It can carry a full load of fuel and 800 pounds of people and stuff at 200 mph. I am truly blessed to have this plane.

 

Counting our blessings is good. It makes us appreciate the good things in our lives. It causes us to recall other times when all may not have been as rosy. Perhaps it may cause us to look around to see if there are ways we can be charitable. There are many less fortunate, deserving, and in need of our assistance.

 

It was during a time of thanksgiving and retrospect that I chose to seek a way to use flying to provide a benefit to people less fortunate than I. I chose Angel Flight. Angel Flight is a non-profit agency dependent solely upon charitable contributions. Its only purpose is to provide round-trip aerial transportation for those in need of medical treatment a long distance from their residence. Occasionally a flight for some other compassionate reason may be provided. There are several loosely connected Angel Flight organizations in the U.S. and other countries. I fly for Angel Flight Georgia and Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic. The former is based at PDK in Atlanta and the latter is in Virginia Beach, VA.

 

I've flown several missions since becoming active in 2005. Each flight has left me with a feeling of pride, and the satisfaction of knowing I have helped my fellow man toward a goal of recovering good health. I have flown a small child, with congenital heart defects, to Vanderbilt for surgery. I've flown a 74 year-old leukemia patient to Charlotte for chemotherapy. I once flew a young father to Suffolk for follow-up treatment for burns received while rescuing his daughter from a burning mobile home. One flight was the result of a late night call asking if I could fly a man from Asheville to Greensboro as he was experiencing organ transplant rejection. I was on the volunteer emergency list at the time.

 

All of these flights have been greatly appreciated by the folks I have flown. On each occasion I have received sincere thanks and a tear or two has dripped on my shoulder as I was given a parting hug.

 

My most recent mission was for Angel Flight Georgia, on December 10, 2006. It was mission 061645 (Case number 1645, 2006). It was a fairly typical mission. Two persons, 270 pounds plus fifty pounds of baggage. I had reviewed missions needing pilots on the web site. I chose a mission of reasonable length and convenience of date. This mission was to pick up a patient, and his accompanying daughter, at HSV, Huntsville, AL, and fly them to DKX, Knoxville. Another pilot, flying a Bonanza A36, took them on to Virginia.

 

Jeffery K's story is fairly typical of someone in need of transportation for medical treatment: At age thirty-nine he had suffered liver failure. Ensuing treatment was unsuccessful. He languished with declining health until it was apparent he was not to receive a donor liver in time. At that time he received a partial liver from a relative. Prior to the health problems he enjoyed a six-figure income and the nice things a comfortable income can provide. Now it is all gone, and the wife of twenty-five years as well. He has been disabled for quite a while. It is obvious Jeffery does not shop at fancy boutiques. His worn shoes and tattered jacket are the telltale clues of a man surviving on the financial edge. Every three months he must undergo surgery for replacement of a stint in his bile duct and removal of accumulated gallstones. I would fly him to his 23rd surgery in six years!

 

He suffers. He endures. Now, appearing much older than his age of forty-six years, he obviously struggles to retain a measure of dignity. His recently married twenty three-year-old daughter, Jessica, provides some needed comfort and stability. She accompanied him this trip, flying up front in the co-pilot position. A natural beauty, with a warm smile for everyone, she handled her father's luggage with grace, waving off my offer of assistance. Her love for her father was obvious.

 

Fourteen years ago my wife and I struggled to cope with our daughter's losing battle with leukemia. We learned a lot about coping during that experience. Through accident or serendipitous misfortune many must cope with life changing events and struggle to live and regain good health. Some do not survive long term. We survivors with good health can provide a small measure of comfort. Those of us who fly can do this by giving of our time and resources in various ways. Angel Flight is one way I choose to help those less fortunate than I.

 

Should you, the reader, be a pilot there may be an interest in Angel Flight. Their requirements are not overly stringent. They require 300 hours, an instrument rating and currency medically and for flight. Also, obviously, you must have access to an airplane. Documentation is required. All expenses are tax deductible. Every Angel Flight is performed on an instrument flight plan. The call sign is modified. Example: I normally use N1512W. On the flight leg with a patient aboard I file as NGF12W. Traffic controllers know this as the national designation for Angel Flight. On the radio I am "Angel Flight One Two Whiskey". Controllers seem to be more courteous and helpful than usual when responding to an Angel Flight call and sometimes have even thanked me for my participation.

 

I am proud of my affiliation with this good charity. I have received far more than I have given. Hopefully I can be active in this endeavor for many years to come. I plan to fly more for charity and less for leisure. Please spread the word. Tell others about their mission. Angel Flight chapters have limited resources to advertise their service of good deeds and can use your help. Maybe, someday soon, you will point your spinner towards the destination of a patient in need. You won't regret that decision. It is still a lot of fun!

 

 

http://www.angelflight-ga.org/

http://angelflightmidatlantic.org/

 

____________________________________________________________

 

Want to read more from Max Grogan?  Check out of his other columns.

Got a comment, question or suggestion for future article? eMail Max.

_________________________________________________________________

 

This material is for advisory information only.  We suggest it not  be relied upon for navigation, flight or maintenance techniques. FatBoyz Aviation does not assume any responsibility for accuracy of content nor any liability arising from it.