Angel Flight

pierre smith · #1 04-17-2006, 07:33 AM

Mornin' everybody,
While we were at Sun 'n Fun, I spoke with the ladies at Angel Flight since I've decided long ago that this little airplane will be dedicated in one way or another to the Lord's work and/or other humanitarian work. They were very enthusiastic and appreciative of my wanting to join their organization and said that they were very short of planes and pilots. Now that experimentals are accepted, I had an opportunity but what kinda surprised me was that they ask me to pay $50 to join the organization. Seems somehow backwards, doesn't it?

Do any of you guys fly for Angel Flight in your RVs or have any experience with them?
Regards,
Pierre

RV7Guy · #2 04-17-2006, 07:53 AM

Hi Pierre,

One of my neighbors uses his A36 and flies Angel Flights quite regularly. I have been on them with him several times. This is a total voluntary endeavor, but tax deductible. I thought that at least the gas would be covered but, not so.

Unless it has very recently changed, I was told Experimentals can only be used in NON passenger carrying roles.

Can't address the $50 to join. Probably for the administrative work for processing.

Kahuna · #3 04-17-2006, 08:21 AM

I have ~35 AF missions in my RV's over the past 5 years.
AF of the SE (the onles with the booth at SnF) does NOT allow expereimentals, so I have not mesed with them. I fly for AF of Georgia and they not only allow the experimentals, but I get the "special' missions that require speed. I usually haul Moms and infants getting special cancer treatment in Atlanta.

Its a great organization and it has been a very rewarding experience.

Ive even done AF missions with multiple RV's for critical supplies for disaster relief efforts. Fun!

AF of Georgia

Best,

praterdj · #4 04-17-2006, 09:50 AM

One of my friends participates in some of the Angel Flights out of Propwash. He donates money to the charity and they use it for the fuel. He then flys one leg co-pilot and one as pic. They carry cancer patients to treatment centers and find it really rewarding.

You may consider encouraging those around you to donate for this very worthy cause. I belive this is legal because it is for a charitable cause.

Donald

medic311 · #5 04-17-2006, 10:05 AM

Hey Pierre - I fly for Angelflight South Central (no experimentals), Angelflight Mid-Atlantic (no experimentals), Angelflight Georgia (I believe Kahuna is right about allowing experimentals). I have about 40 total missions with all of them since Feb 2005. Each flight is always better than the last. The patients are so gracious and appreciative - it is definitely worthwhile. Be prepared to make room for unexpected luggage, etc.

The only thing that is required is a liability insurance policy (can't remember the limits). There are always waivers signed to protect you and your passengers. I have had NO bad experiences with any of the Angel Flights. They WILL keep you busy if you want to fly. And yes, for renters like myself, it is all tax-deductible.

www.angelflightsc.org
www.angelflightmapilots.org
www.angelflight-ga.org

Sorry the ailerons didn't work out for you.

Joe

7pilot · #6 04-17-2006, 10:49 AM

Angel Flight is an outstanding organization. You will feel very well rewarded for every flight you make. The total cost of the flight is yours to bear, but as was pointed out, it is also completely tax deductible up to your fully loaded hourly operating costs, your drive to the airport, and any other expenses you may have, like lunch etc.

Southcentral does not allow the use of Experimental aircraft, at least as of 6 months ago. If you would like to participate, renting planes is the way to do it here.

The $50 charge I believe is only done by the AF West. All of the Angel Flight organizations have considerable overhead with scheduling and support systems, this fee is partially used to offset those costs. It also cuts down on the amount of deadwood. There are many pilots who join and never fly. They are kept on the rolls in South Central and there is a cost to that - in mailings and time when they are trying to figure out who can take a mission.

For those of you trying to fly missions in other wings that accept experimentals, your mission profile is pretty limited. SouthCentral doesn't need to fly too many organs or blood flights. If you are taking a passenger, 90% of the time they have an escort, last time I checked there are very few RV's with a 3rd or 4th seat. Another issue for the flights with only one person, these patients are often weak, aged, or just not feeling too great, and are not able to easily climb around to get into the average RV.

If your area of the country has a number of missions that fit your plane, don't let me discourage you, like I said it is a very rewarding experience. If you go out onto the Angel Flight South Central web site, you can see the missions available and get a better idea of how many would fit your plane. I am sure the other Angel Flight sites have something similar.

http://www.angelflightsc.org/ btw - the picture of a mother and child on the front page was in the back seat of my Cherokee Six before I sold it to AOPA for the Six in 06 sweepstakes giveaway.

Stewart

Cessnaah · #7 05-20-2007, 06:11 AM

Is Angel Flight now allowing experimentals to fly passengers? If so, is that Angel Flight SE or some other branch?

tangocharlie · #8 05-21-2007, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kahuna

I have ~35 AF missions in my RV's over the past 5 years.
AF of the SE (the onles with the booth at SnF) does NOT allow expereimentals, so I have not mesed with them. I fly for AF of Georgia and they not only allow the experimentals, but I get the "special' missions that require speed. I usually haul Moms and infants getting special cancer treatment in Atlanta.

Its a great organization and it has been a very rewarding experience.

Ive even done AF missions with multiple RV's for critical supplies for disaster relief efforts. Fun!

AF of Georgia

Best,

After losing my husband to cancer, I can't think of a much more rewarding trip.

Tammy

mgomez · #9 05-21-2007, 08:41 AM

I have flown a bunch of AngelFlight (and before that, AirLifeLine) missions in rented airplanes. Very few of them involved just one passenger. Most involved a passenger and an escort (usually a child and a parent.)

So even if I were allowed to fly them in my RV (my region, Mid-Atlantic, doesn't allow it), it would be a small fraction of the available missions. Still, I'd do it if I could. Some of the missions are quite long, forcing AngelFlight to break them up into several 200 nm legs. They're assuming the average pilot flies a 120-kt airplane. A 170-kt RV would make it a lot easier on the passenger.

tonyjohnson · #10 07-13-2007, 08:36 PM

My RV is not yet complete and Angel Flight SE won't let you use an experimental anyway. My Taylorcraft L2 is totally unsuitable for this kind of mission, you could transport a person by car faster.

I just signed up with Angel Flight SE as a co-pilot. I figure that I can assist a pilot who has a suitable airplane. Although I do not have an instrument ticket yet, I am working on it and have enough knowledge to assist the PIC on IFR missions.

All of these missions provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. Some of them, particularly the transplant missions, actually save lives. I cannot imagine that anyone on this forum would pass up the opportunity to save a life.

I would not have thought of this opportunity to serve the community if not for the post of Pierre that started this thread.

Those of us who are blessed with good health and the ability to own an airplane and fly should use those assets to help others, even in the limited capacity of co-pilot.

I hope that others of you will join me in that effort and sign up for whatever you can provide.

I don't mind paying the $50 to join.....and they give you a polo shirt in return