As we close out 2025 and prepare for a new year, we’re filled with gratitude for our dedicated community of pilots and supporters who make the LifeLine Pilots mission possible.
In 2026, LifeLine Pilots will celebrate 45 years of service, a milestone that reflects decades of helping patients reach essential non-emergency medical care at zero cost through the generosity and commitment of our volunteer pilots. The value of flights donated by our pilots this past year equates to more than $2,300,000. We are humbled by this level of generosity.
A Record-Breaking Year
The need for LifeLine Pilots’ flights has grown significantly over the years. In 2025, we completed 1,200 flights, a 22 percent increase from last year, continuing the strong growth we’ve seen over the past five years. While we celebrate being able to help so many patients, the reality is clear. We must be ready to serve even more passengers in the year ahead.
A Year of Growth
As demand has increased, this past year has brought exciting developments for passengers, pilots, and our small but mighty team. In response to our growing responsibilities, our staff has expanded from just two team members in 2019 to seven full-time staff members and three part-time contractors in 2025.
Thanks to a generous grant, we placed three community outreach coordinators on the ground in Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio, bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. The surge in demand also led to the addition of two full-time team members in Michigan and Indiana to support our marketing and fundraising initiatives. These efforts ensure we can continue meeting the needs of our passengers.
Throughout the year, we attended several conferences across the Midwest to share the resource of free flights with social workers and healthcare professionals working in hospital systems. Working with those in the medical field helps ensure that patients of all ages facing chronic conditions, ongoing cancer treatments, or rare diagnoses can access expert care not available locally.
In addition to serving medical passengers, we also supported a wide range of humanitarian needs. Over the summer, we organized a large-scale coordination effort to fly survivors of trafficking to a healing retreat. We also expanded our humanitarian flights by flying more “puppy flights,” helping transport puppies to the places where they will begin their careers as therapy dogs.
Our Guiding Values
These efforts reflect the principles that guide every decision we make and every flight we coordinate. Everything we do at LifeLine Pilots is rooted in our core values.
- Safety. The safety of our passengers, pilots, and volunteers is our number one priority.
- Collaboration. We are strongest when we work together for the common goal of helping those in need.
- Continuous improvement. Innovation, transformation, and growth to serve people who rely on our services.
- Quality service. We strive for excellence.
- Respect. We meet every person where they are on their journey, help when we can, and treat each person with equal care, compassion, and understanding.
- Stewardship. Through our actions, we value the pilots, community partners, volunteers, and donors who contribute to the mission.
Looking Ahead
Since our beginning, our mission has remained steadfast: to ensure that patients across the Midwest receive safe, free flights to access medical care far from home. No matter the challenges ahead, we will never waver in our vision of a world where every person can reach the care they need, regardless of age, income, or geography.
As we fly into 2026, we remain committed to being a lifeline for those who need it most. On behalf of our team and the passengers we are honored to serve, thank you for helping provide the shortest distance between home and hope.
Contact our Mission Coordinators at 800-822-7972 for more information or to request a flight.
Consider making a donation to the gift of hope for patients in need of medical care far from home.