Dear Sl7 ,
First of all, let me express my appreciation to you. Every volunteer s
a little piece of sunshine.
Your first address might be the National Patient Air Transportation
Hotline (Tel. 800-296-1217, Website <http://www.npath.org>.
Another organisation that serves as an umbrella for further charities,
is The Air Care Alliance, <http://www.aircareall.org/>. It is " a
nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations whose volunteer
pilots are dedicated to community service." (ibid.). The Air Care
Alliance has a long listing of charities you could contribute flight
hours to <http://www.aircareall.org/listings.htm>.
The National Patient Air Transportation Service refers to several
organisations, firstly to Angel Flight America
<http://www.angelflightamerica.org/>, that was mentioned in the
comments: " a not-for-profit grassroots organization with a volunteer
corps of more than 5,000 private pilots?divided into six regions
covering the American continent?who fly under the banner of Angel
Flight America.
[...]
provide flights of hope and healing by transporting patients and their
families in private planes, free of charge, to hospitals for medical
treatment. We also provide flights in a national crisis or whenever
there is a compelling human need " (SOURCE: Angel Flights America,
<http://www.angelflightamerica.org/>).
Angel Flights have special divisions for people interested in flying
cancer, chronic or hospice patients; and for people interested in
flying veterans with problems. The Flying Samaritans, mentioned
bellow, are also associated with Angel Flights Network.
You could find more about this, which is the largest organisation, here:
<http://www.patient-travel.org/volunteer_pilots.htm>
Another organisation you could contact is VPA - Volunteer Pilots
Association <http://www.volunteerpilots.org/>. They are a nationwide
pilot organisation, that flies both emergency and non-emergency cases.
Miracle Flights for Kids is an organisation taking children to medical
treatments. <http://www.miracleflights.com/>
Flying Paws <http://www.flyingpaws.org/> takes animals in need. Here
is their pilots information
<http://www.flyingpaws.org/Information%20&%20application%20for%20vol%20pilots.htm>.
SkyArk <http://www.skyark.org/> are supposed to be a nationwide
organisation providing the same service, but from their site, it is
not clear how to become a volunteer pilot.
A non-medical charity looking for pilots, but not on a regular basis,
is the Make A Wish Foundation <http://www.wish.org/>. You are
volunteering, of course, as a wish granter, and believe me - as
someone who used to be a kid - many kids dream of being in a plane.
Their LA offices: <http://www.wishla.org/>
Their Vegas offices: <http://southernnevada.wish.org/>
Organisations outside your geographical limits
-----------------------------------------------
Aeromedicos of Santa Barbara is a nonprofit healthcare organization of
volunteer medical personnel, pilots, mechanics, translators, and other
friends. We fly monthly missions to remote regions of Mexico, offering
free medical and dental care to people with limited or no other access
to care.
http://www.aeromedicos.org/
The Flying Samaritans <http://www.flyingsamaritans.org/> also fly from
California to Mexico, in order to donate medical treatment (not
emergency one, but a flying clinic).
The Texan based organisation Challenge Air for Kids
<http://www.challengeair.com/> " offers motivational, inspirational
and life-changing experiences to physically challenged children and
youth through aviation." They also have flights in California this
year, and it seems that schedule depends first and foremost of the
volunteers' geographical preferences.
Close but no cigar
------------------
The Civil Air Patrol is listed here, although it is a nationwide
organisation with activities in the areas you've asked for, because
their site is so horrible, one cannot understand how to volunteer:
<http://www.cap.gov/>.
Unfortunately, you cannot join the environmental charity, LightHawk
volunteer pilots service <http://www.lighthawk.org/index.htm>, because
they require more than 1,000 hours as a minimum. In addition, they do
not seek currently volunteers in California.
MercyMed, too, are not looking for volunteers at the moment
<http://www.mercymedflight.org/> .
EVAC: the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps <http://www.evac.org/> (No
chapters in LA or Vegas, but in other towns in California).
More
----
AOPA ( Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) Recommendations for
Volunteer Pilots <http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/volunteer.pdf>
Arturo Weiss , "A Higher Calling", AvWeb, December 26, 2002
<http://www.avweb.com/newswire/8_52b/leadnews/181988-1.html>
Susan Carey Dempsey, "Flights of Philanthropy", OnPhilanthropy,
01/10/03, <http://www.onphilanthropy.com/prof_inter/pi2003-01-12.html>.
Landings Aviation - a list of links to medical volunteer services,
worldwide <http://www.landings.com/_landings/pages/vps/other-services-medic.html>
I hope this answered your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarification on this answer before you rate it. |
