Will Extend Network Into Rural Areas

Angel Flight of Tennessee, a non-profit charitable air medical transportation organization serving needy people and their families, will expand its outreach to rural communities throughout the state. Aero-News learned Wednesday the program plans to increase its pilot and volunteer recruitment in order to improve its social service case work throughout rural Tennessee.

"Every day, Angel Flight of Tennessee upholds its mission of ensuring that financially-needy patients have access to distant specialized medical care through air transport," said Jim Smith, Executive Director, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic. "We hope to reach many people with life-threatening medical situations, especially those who live in rural communities. We also hope to expand our network of volunteer pilots statewide."

By providing free, life-saving, long-distance air transportation to specialized medical facilities, Angel Flight can help restore persons with rare diseases or with chronic or life-threatening illnesses to normal life in the family and community.

"Angel Flight of Tennessee has brought hope to countless patients and their families who need access to distant medical care," says Edward Boyer, a board member of Angel Flight of Tennessee who also is CEO and founder of Mercy Medical Airlift in Virginia Beach, VA. "These patients, who lack financial means, rely on Angel Flight pilots and volunteers to give them access to medical facilities."

Angel Flight of Tennessee's expansion of services is made possible through a 12-month "Mini" Compassion Capital Fund grant of $50,000 from the US Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families. All funds will be devoted to the project.

In Fiscal Year 2006, Angel Flight of Tennessee had 105 volunteer pilots who completed 295 missions serving 450 passengers. The public benefit was $235,363.

Angel Flight of Tennessee is part of Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, a 10-state region that coordinates travel missions of 1,000 miles or less. Angel Flight's mission is to ensure that no needy patient is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis or treatment for lack of long- distance medical air transportation.

In 2006, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic had nearly 1,500 volunteer pilots who flew 1,812 missions, with a total of 3,393 passengers and escorts flown. The public benefit was over $1.8 million.

FMI: www.angelflightmidatlantic.org