VOLUNTEER PILOTS GIVE HOPE

BY LIFELINE PILOTS

HANK WAS BORN in January 2022, and apart from newborn jaundice he seemed happy and healthy. However, his jaun dice never seemed to completely go away. After a whirlwind of tests, he was diagnosed with a rare liver disease called biliary atresia.

At the age of 6 months, Hank received a liver transplant and with it endless follow-up appointments to ensure he remains a healthy little boy. Hank’s family lives in North Dakota, but his specialist medical team is the University of Minnesota Fairview Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, a six-hour car ride away.

The frequency of visits has put financial stress on the family, and ongoing medical costs have depleted the family’s income. While in the hospital, Hank’s parents learned about LifeLine Pilots and the possibility of free medical flights to and from treatment. The flights reduce the burden on Hank’s family, from a six-hour drive each way to a quick flight. Thanks to numerous volunteer pilots, Hank receives the best medical care possible.

Hank was given the gift of life through an organ transplant. Now, at 18 months old, Hank is a happy little boy with a beautiful smile. Every day, volunteer pilots are changing lives through flight. They generously share their special skill to fly people like Hank to medical treatment far from home.

What is the mission of LifeLine Pilots?

LifeLine Pilots coordinates free air transportation, through volunteer pilots, for people with medical or humanitarian needs far from home. Each year, volunteer pilots complete hundreds of missions, bringing patients to and from lifesaving medical care.

“We believe that everyone, regardless of income or location, should have equal access to health care,” said

Lindsey Kerr, executive director of LifeLine Pilots. “By removing the transportation barrier, LifeLine Pilots helps to ease the financial burden put on families during times of medical uncertainty. The best thing we can tell families is there is no cost, ever.”

“Some fly once a month, while others take a volunteer flight once a year. Every flight helps a family in need.”

Lindsey Kerr

LifeLine Pilots receives no government funding. Instead, they rely on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations to fund the coordination of every flight. The volunteer pilots are the biggest supporters of LifeLine

Pilots, giving $1.7 million last year in donated flight time and airplane use.

“Volunteer pilots are located throughout our 10-state region and come from a variety of backgrounds,” said Kerr. “Some fly once a month, while others take a volunteer flight once a year. Every flight helps a family in need.”

How can you get involved?

If you live in the Midwest, LifeLine Pilots has an easy-to-complete volunteer application form available on the website LifeLinePilots.org. To become a volunteer pilot, you must be 21 years old, have 250 hours PIC, have your current medical and insurance documents, and complete the AOPA Public Benefit Flying online course.

If you live outside the Midwest, there are volunteer pilot organizations located throughout the country looking for volunteers. The Air Care Alliance (ACA) is a public service organization supporting public benefit flying. The ACA has a list of volunteer pilot organizations on their website AirCareAlliance.org.

To learn more about charitable aviation and how you can make a difference, join LifeLine Pilots on Tuesday, July 25, at 4 p.m. in the AOPA pavilion. Their panel of pilots includes Martin Pauly, Natalie “Fly Girl” Kelley, and volunteer pilots who will inspire you with the topic “Take Your Passion and Change the World.”

H H H H PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

H H H H GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

DeltaHawk Engines H Epic Aircraft H HondaJet H Honeywell BendixKing H Lightspeed Aviation H

Lycoming H Mars Wrigley H PenFed H Phillips 66 H Redbird Flight

H H H H SILVER LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

AeroShell H Airbus H Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) H Aspen Avionics H Cirrus Aircraft H Collins Aerospace H

Dynon H Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University H Icom America H John Deere H Piper Aircraft, Inc. H Pratt & Whitney H Wipaire

H H H H BRONZE LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

Air Wisconsin Airlines H Aircraft Specialties Services H American Airlines H ASA (Aviation Supplies & Academics) H

Blackhawk Aerospace H Bose Aviation H Cleveland Wheels & Brakes H Continental Aerospace Technologies H Covington Aircraft H

CubCrafters, Inc. H Delta Air Lines H Electroair Acquisition Corporation H Flight Outfitters H GE Aerospace H Gulf Coast Avionics / Pacific Coast Avionics H Hartzell Engine Tech H Hartzell Propeller H Horizon Hobby H Jani-King H JP Instruments H Lincoln Electric H McFarlane

Aviation Products H NATCA H Pepsi H Piedmont Airlines H Pilatus Business Aircraft H Poly Fiber, Inc H PowerLift Hydraulic Doors H Red Box Tools and Foam / Priceless Tugs H Rotax Independent Service and Training Centres H Siemens Digital Industry Software H Southwest Airlines H Superflite H Superior Air Parts, Inc. H SureFly Partners H Tempest Aero Group H True Blue Power H United Airlines H Van’s Aircraft H WACO Aircraft Corporation H Williams International H Women in Aviation International (WAI) H Zenith Aircraft

H H H H PATRON LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

B & C Specialty Products Inc. H Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company H

SOFTIE PARACHUTES by Para-Phernalia, Inc. H Starr Aviation H U.S. Air Force H uAvionix

H H H H SUPPORTER LEVEL SPONSORS H H H H

4imprint H Arena Americas H Crewchief Systems H DATC H Endeavor Air H EnerSys ® H FliteTest H General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) H GES H Global Aerospace H Green Bay Austin Straubel Int. Airport H Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation H

Honda Power Equipment H JSFirm.com H Scheme Designers, Inc H Sherwin-Williams Aerospace H UND Aerospace H Walkabout Hats H WILCO H Wing Aviation H Wisconsin Imaging, LLC