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Pilots Donate Time and Money to Transport Patients
Angel Flight West (AFW) is a non-profit organization that provides a valuable service to those people living in the 14 western states of the U.S., including
Arizona. The mission of Angel Flight West is to arrange free air transportation in response to health care and other compelling human needs.
Angel Flight West links both volunteer private pilots and commercial airline partners with people in need whose non-emergency health care problems require that
they travel to and from medical facilities throughout the 14 western states, including Alaska and Hawaii. The costs of all flights are donated by the pilots
and there is never a charge for an Angel Flight West mission.
The pilots of AFW volunteer their time and the costs of flying their aircraft to transport those who need medical care and/or have other needs, including:
domestic violence relocations, special needs camps, transporting blood for blood banks, flying Wounded Warriors to much needed recreational activities or
compassionate missions to visit sick or terminally ill family members.
For those who live in remote areas of Arizona and need to receive treatment in a major city, AFW is the answer to their transportation challenges. The pilots
can transport individuals and companions (limitations apply) up to 1,000 miles, although the trip would be flown in three aircrafts by three pilots forming a
relay. Another benefit is the ability for AFW pilots to fly those individuals residing in other states to Arizona for medical treatment - for example, to the
Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.
Trina C. flies from her home in Concord, Calif., to An Oasis of Healing in Mesa, Ariz., for treatment of her advanced breast cancer. Trina had been given little
hope by her doctors in California and is now doing very well with her treatment in Arizona. Katherine T. travels from her home in the Phoenix area to UCLA
Medical Center for treatment of her melanoma. UCLA is currently the only facility testing this protocol. Also given a grim diagnosis, Katherine is now one of a
very few who has had success! Those living in more remote areas such as Show Low, Tuba City or Sierra Vista could benefit from this service by being transported
to larger medical centers in Phoenix or Tucson. In the words of a former AFW passenger, "…I could not have received the type of treatment I needed to save my
life without your services. I am forever grateful." Similar words from those who benefit from the amazing hearts and generosity of the pilots are often sent to
or spoken of the organization. AFW strives to make sure that transportation is never the barrier that prevents someone from receiving medical treatment.
Passengers must be medically stable and able to get in and out of a small general aviation aircraft and sit up for the duration of the flight. Flight requests
must come from a reliable third party such as a social worker, medical office, clergy person or other social service agency. Advance notice of at least one week
is necessary and there are restrictions on numbers of passengers and luggage restrictions.
For more general information regarding the organization, please go to: www.angelflightwest.org.
Please take a few minutes to view the video on the home page of the little girl sitting on the wing of the aircraft.
For more information regarding how the program works and to see a video about flying in small general aviation airplanes please
click here or call (888) 426-2643. |
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League of Arizona Cities and Towns
1820 W. Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-258-5786
Fax: 602-253-3874
http://www.azleague.org
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