Welcome to my Angel Flight web page.
I have been flying aeroplanes for well over twenty years now, mostly just for my own pleasure and indulgence. That pleasure, though, was not necessarily always mine - quite often it would be the sadistic flight instructor's in the right hand seat.
Then, in the middle of 2003, I came across the Angel Flight Australia organisation which is described thus:
Angel Flight Australia co-ordinates non emergency flights for financially and medically needy people. All flights are free and may involve patients or compassionate carers travelling to or from medical facilities anywhere in Australia.Angel Flight pilots do not carry aeromedical staff or medical equipment so do not act as an alternative to the Royal Flying Doctor Service or Air Ambulance in that capacity.
Whilst those living close to major hospitals and specialist medical help might find a short journey by road extremely uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable, patients living long distances from such help often have to endure hours of road travel where every bump and turn in the road adds to their discomfort.
With approximately 30% of Australians living in rural areas, there is a potential threat to the health and wellbeing of a significant number of people purely due to their geographical location.
"Health Professionals" i.e. medical practitioners, nurses, social workers are the people from whom we receive "flight requests".
I thought that by joining Angel Flight I could maybe add an hour or two to my log book every year and have a little bit more fun while at the same time helping someone. Having checked that I met the experience and insurance requirements, I registered as a pilot.
Little did I realise at the time how humbling, satisfying and enjoyable this activity would turn out to be and how many flights I would do.
I have flown people ranging in age from 2 months to 69 years and criss-crossed the southern part of the state of Queensland and the nothern parts of New South Wales. Some missions have been long and very taxing, but none have been tiring - they have all been uplifting.
Participating in Angel Flight has made me realise how fortunate I am with my family, health and circumstances. My passengers have been universally grateful and we usually have lots of laughs and long chats.
I also enjoy the camaraderie with other Angel Flight pilots and the staff at "Head Office" that dish out the missions.
I use my Archerfield based Beechcraft 36 Bonanza VH-FWL to fly missions for Angel Flight. The management team at my work, Jensware Pty Ltd, are very understanding, letting me fly missions during the week, when I really should be working.
The folks at Angel Flight look at all bids received, and, assign it according to merit. When they are really desperate and have no other takers they assign the mission to me.
If the mission is coming up on short notice (about 2 to 3 days), Angel Flight will send the "likely suspects" (likelihood being determined by geography) an email pointing to the billboard.
On rare occasions, when the assigned pilot is unable to proceed (for example: a bad weather forecast on the day before indicates that it is impossible to do the mission under Visual Flight Rules), Angel Flight directly calls some local pilots, who might be able to do it. I have been assigned a fair few missions on this basis.
On even rarer occasions a mission comes up at only a few hours' notice, in which case Angel Flight might call pilots directly. I was once asked to do such a flight, but, while still in the planning stages, it transpired that the Royal Flying Doctor Service would do the mission.
