Air Care Alliance, Angel Flight, and More Strive to Meet a 200-Person Quota

The Air Care Alliance (ACA) is a national nonprofit chapter organization dedicated to providing free aircraft transportation for individuals in need of medical care, especially those facing financial hardships. Volunteers sacrifice their personal aircraft for the sake of the victims, saving lives and improving themselves. This year, the ACA is seeking out 200 volunteer pilots for missions such as Angel Flight and other nonprofits committed to supporting those in need.

ACA and most nonprofit organizations work within chapters designated by location and transportation purpose; emergency flights, disaster relief, animal rescues, etc. Angel Flight West is a West-based group that deals with emergencies and medical cases in that jurisdiction.

Josh Olson, vice chair of the Air Care Alliance and former executive director of Angel Flight West, has helped grow Angel Flight’s reach. His responsibilities have shifted toward organizational commitments within these nonprofits for promotional purposes.

Mary Hunter quickly assumed her title as the new executive director and quickly immersed herself in learning the process. Now at the helm, she’s focused on fundraising and scaling the group's human-centered approach. “It’s such a well-oiled machine, but I don't know all the intricacies, so that's been really cool to learn,” she said.

One story in particular grounded her commitment to the role: a boy named Juan, just entering high school, required biweekly dialysis flights from Santa Monica to San Jose. “Just his energy and looking forward to school, it was someone that's been dealt such a hard hand in life… that’s what locked me in. I want to be here. I want to learn more.”

Retired Angel Flight pilot and longtime board member, Mark Merrill, has been flying for 40 years and volunteering with Angel Flight West for 20 years. He recalled two emotional missions that defined the importance of volunteering and the emotions that come with it.

Merrill helped fly an injured soldier out of Iraq and back home to his family in Oregon. When he returned, his entire town was awaiting his arrival. Teary-eyed, he moved on to retell the time a group of young sisters were caught in a house fire and needed a ride to a sort of burn victim camp for rehabilitation. Merrill noticed the differences before and after the girls attended the camp and remarked how lively they suddenly became in a mere couple of months.

His message to other pilots is simple: “If you're a pilot, get off your ass and help people.” And for those who don’t fly? “You can drive people to and from the airport or donate and help coordinate."

“When I'm involved in Angel Flight, I don't have any problems,” said Merrill.

FMI: www.aircarealliance.org