Florida Pilots From Orange Park, Pensacola And Alford Will Be Honored For Transporting Patients To Far-From-Home Medical Appointments

Sometimes a visit to the doctor can be complicated because of a patient’s inability to travel long distances due to physical or financial challenges. That’s when Kerry Bentley, Charles Gould and John Epley come to the rescue.

Bentley, Gould, and Epley volunteer with Angel Flight Southeast, donating their time, personal aircraft and fuel to fly patients to life-saving medical appointments that otherwise would be too far away or too costly. They are part of a network of 650 pilots who volunteer to make approximately 3,000 missions each year.

The three men are being recognized as honorees for the “Pilot of the Year” Award for the North Florida region. They will be honored on Friday, April 8, 2016 at the Dr. Franklin G. Norris Pilot Awards Gala for Angel Flight Southeast, to be at the River Ranch Resort and airport (2RR) in River Ranch, FL, and one of the three will be named “Pilot of the Year,” the highest honor for Angel Flight Southeast pilots.

Kerry Bentley, who just joined the Angel Flight Southeast network in 2015, flies a Cirrus out of Herlong Recreational Airport, in Jacksonville. He resides in Orange Park and is also a nominee for the “Rookie Pilot Award,” a category for pilots who recently joined the organization.

Charles Gould, who flies a Beechcraft Baron is based out of Pensacola. He has been flying for Angel Flight Southeast since 2010 and resides in Pensacola. Gould was named Pilot of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2014, as well as the 2014 Pilot of the Year Honoree for Transplant Missions.

John Epley, who flies a Beechcraft Bonanza, is based out of Marianna Municipal. He has been an Angel Flight Southeast pilot since 2008 and resides in Alford. Epley was a 2012, 2014 and 2015 Pilot of the Year Honoree.

“Our Angel Flight Southeast pilots may sign up to fly a passenger to a medical appointment any day of the week. Some flights require multiple legs and these volunteers play an important role in coordinating the trips with precise timing so their passengers arrive safely and on time,” said Steve Purello, CEO of Angel Flight Southeast which is based in Leesburg, Florida. “Often pilots will fly the same passenger to multiple appointments and they develop close relationships with the patients and their families and friends. While the pilots often say their reward is the smile or hug from the passengers, we want to recognize each of them for their unselfish dedication to our Angel Flight Southeast passengers.”

(Source: Angel Flight Southeast news release)

FMI: www.angelflightse.org/events