Angel flights are free military flights offered to retired and active military personnel in need of medical treatment and vital healthcare attention, and other compelling purposes for travel. These angel flight organizations are usually run and coordinated by volunteers, commonly those retired from the force.
Angel flights have gained the public’s curiosity due to their unique name. And looking into the angel flight military definition, you begin to understand why they’re named so.
Learn more about “what is an angel flight military?” and the selfless volunteerism that drives it in this article. Read on!
Table of Contents
All About Angel Flights
1. Angel flight meaning
Angel flight is not a term exclusively used in the context of the military. Civilians can also benefit from charitable non-profit organizations that fly “angel planes” that provide free air transport to those needing medical treatment and similar vital purposes.
Angel flights for veterans and those for civilians are essentially similar in nature. They both offer free flights and are usually organized by volunteers.
Angel Flight Soars, established in 1983, and Angel Flight Australia, formed in 2003, are some organizations widely recognized for their generous volunteerism. Angels for Armed Forces, founded in 1996, is a similar organization concentrating on serving the personnel of the Armed Forces, with the slogan of “proudly serving those who serve us.”
2. Who do an angel flight fly?
Military angel flights fly patients who are in the military or are veterans, including their families. The patient’s health status is a primary consideration, as angel flights cannot care for patients in the advanced stages of their illnesses.
They must be ambulatory and do not require medical care in transit. This is because angel flights usually use four to six-seater general aviation aircraft, which are incapable of carrying medical equipment on board. Also, angel flight organizations are usually manned by volunteers who may not be skilled enough to handle very sick individuals.
While the case is similar regarding angel flights for civilians, the passenger selection process may be more stringent.
A long list of people apply for angel flights daily. Hence, organizations select the most financially challenged applicant or those whose conditions are chronic and rely significantly on treatment that can only be accessed from a distant hospital.
3. Where do they fly?
Angel flight organizations usually offer domestic flights as they usually only fly inter-state and not internationally. In the event of international flight requests, these are only made possible through a partnership with commercial airline partners.
Angel flight organizations, from the get-go, advertise the states covered in their operations. Angels for Armed Forces, for example, only fly across nine states in the US, including New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, to name a few.
Additionally, angel flights do not have special angel airlines, so they make use of general aviation aircraft and land at general aviation airports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What airline does the military use?
As mentioned, angel flights do not have specialized airlines. Instead, volunteer pilots and their vehicles, ground crew, and admin coordinators run the whole organization.
How do angel flight coordinators source their funding for everyday operations?
The organization is a nonprofit profit, so it does not earn from its operations. Instead, it sources its funding from donations, sponsorships, and organized fundraising events.
Conclusion
With better mind pictures of what is an angel flight military, do you also agree that these flights were aptly named so? Hopefully, this article has answered your questions on the topic and sparked the spirit of volunteerism in you.
If this article has inspired you, google the angel flight organization closest to you and help by donating or volunteering. No effort is too small when it comes to volunteerism.
Cheers!
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