Healthcare treatments can be crucial for a person’s recovery. However, sometimes patients require services from medical facilities outside their immediate area for the best quality care, and they don’t have personal transportation options. The added costs of traveling to far-away facilities can create a financial burden many can’t afford. Fortunately, some options offer free non-emergency… Read more »
Category: LifeLine Blog
Myths About Flying in Small Airplanes
While some people fear all flying, others are particularly apprehensive about flying in small planes. Here are a few myths about flying small airplanes that we debunked to help you better understand how safe general aviation really is! First, let’s clarify what we mean by “small airplane”. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a… Read more »
Volunteer Pilot Response to 9/11 Attacks
On September 11, we honor those who lost their lives in the tragic events that took place 21 years ago. In the wake of the attacks, most Americans wondered “How can I help?” “When air traffic came to a halt, AirLifeLine Midwest (now LifeLine Pilots) mission coordinators and volunteer pilots continued to serve our nation… Read more »
Fixed-Based Operators Play a Crucial Role in Medical Travel
Private air travelers rely heavily on fixed-based operators (FBOs) for fuel, maintenance, and other essential services required. But did you know that many FBOs can also help people who need medical flights? In this article, we’ll explore how FBOs work with medical flight operators to ensure all patients get the care they need when traveling… Read more »
Volunteer Pilots Provide Free, Life-Changing Travel for Patients and Loved Ones
Dealing with a disease or medical condition is challenging and stressful. Getting the care you or your loved one needs isn’t easy. Necessary medical appointments and treatments are often far away from home. How do patients get there, and how do they afford the travel costs? They shouldn’t worry about these things when trying to… Read more »
Home for Graduation
Save at the Pump with Phillips 66!
Gas prices, am I right? Americans are paying more at the pump than ever before. We haven’t seen prices over $4.00 per gallon since the economic collapse of 2008. Our pilots are not immune to this hike in prices. It makes flying for charitable purposes harder than ever before. Not everyone has hundreds of dollars… Read more »
Call Sign Mismatch & FAA Enforcement Action
By Peyton Metzel, PhD – Safety Committee Chair About CMF Call Sign As you know, the CMF call sign is available to LifeLine Pilots as an alternative to your N-number when flying a mission carrying LifeLine Pilots passengers. Since CMF identifies you as flying a compassion mission, you may receive priority handling for routing or altitudes…. Read more »
You’re Never Alone with Cancer Hope Network
Tyler Liston After weeks (months!?) of tests and scans and sleepless nights spent worrying, the doctor sits across the desk from you, looks up from the chart on her desk and says, “Unfortunately, it’s cancer.” Your care team recommends a new treatment protocol. You’ve heard horror stories of the side effects it brings. Your beloved… Read more »
Pilot’s Corner: Dr. W. Tad Foster
Ann Rude Dr. W. Tad Foster has been flying with LifeLine Pilots since 2009. If the mission is going through Indiana, his name will usually be on it. As with most things aviation, his path to pilothood was not as the crow flies… Six weeks after high school graduation, Foster joined the Air Force with… Read more »
Under Our Wing
Tyler Liston After a decade of retail management, I made the decision to switch careers and start my journey into the nonprofit sector. Not that there’s anything wrong with retail, mind you. I loved the face-to-face customer interactions and the problem-solving aspects of the job, but there was just something missing. I wanted to do… Read more »
Volunteer Begins 50th Anniversary Flight
Following in the footsteps of great aviators, Robert Briggs and his family will commemorate his 50th year of flying by landing at every airport in his home state of Iowa. DES MOINES, IA – Coming soon, to an airport near you – Des Moines native Robert Briggs will celebrate his 50th year of piloting by… Read more »