Somewhere between takeoff and landing, something remarkable happens. A child with a rare disease watches clouds pass beneath the wings. A family traveling to yet another specialist appointment feels, for the first time in months, that they're not alone. A volunteer pilot looks over at their passengers and understands exactly why they fly.

Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic is a network of volunteer pilots who donate their aircraft, their fuel, and their time to fly patients to medical care they couldn't otherwise reach. These pilots don't get paid. They pay for their own fuel, their own maintenance, their own time away from work and family. They do it because they can, and because someone needs them to.

These are the stories of families who found hope at 5,000 feet.

Benjamin: 18 Months of Mercy Flights

A Mystery Illness Finally Named

About four years ago, Benjamin got sick very rapidly. For over a year, his family couldn't get a diagnosis. After initial treatment at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis, they were referred to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. That's where they finally got answers: Benjamin has autoimmune encephalitis, a condition where his immune system attacks his brain by mistake.

A Family of Eight, Stretched Thin

Benjamin's family is large: two parents and six children. Some of the children have complex medical needs like Benjamin. His father, Ron, is a minister at a small church. He hasn't received a raise since the lockdowns in 2020. Finances are tight.

"We're a family of eight," Ron explained. "Needless to say, our finances are tight."

Pilots Who Go the Extra Mile

Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic's volunteer pilot program has made it possible for Benjamin's family to fly to Cincinnati Children's for his care over the past year-and-a-half. But the pilots have done more than just fly the missions.

"We have met so many generous people," Ron shared. "One time when weather grounded us in Cincinnati, the pilots rented us a car so we could complete the trip."

Benjamin still needs another year of treatment. But now, his family knows they're not in this struggle alone.

"Mercy Medical Angels and their volunteer pilot program have repeatedly been an incredible blessing to our family!"

Ariana: Flying to Healing After Burns

Scars That Needed Specialist Care

When Ariana was younger, she was burned across her chest, from her neck down to her waist. The burns were treated at the time, but doctors said she would need surgery and other treatment later to address scarring and healing.

Ariana was referred to Shriners Children's Hospital in Boston. Unfortunately, her family didn't have the funds to get there. They didn't know how Ariana would receive the surgery and treatment she needed.

An Answer to Prayer

Mercy Medical Angels' volunteer pilot program made it possible for Ariana to receive the care she needed.

"They took fantastic care of us, from the time we applied to the time Ariana arrived at Shriners," her parents shared. "The communication and coordination with all who were involved was incredible!"

"It's safe to say Ariana would not have been able to get to Shriners if the volunteer pilots of Mercy Medical Angels weren't there. They really were an answer to our prayers."

What Volunteer Pilots Give

Every volunteer pilot mission represents a remarkable gift:

• Their aircraft: Pilots use their own planes, which they maintain and insure at their own expense.
• Their fuel: A single mission can cost hundreds of dollars in aviation fuel, paid out of the pilot's pocket.
• Their time: Pre-flight planning, the flight itself, and the return trip home can take an entire day.
• Their expertise: Years of training and thousands of hours of flight time go into every safe journey.
• Their compassion: The willingness to use their skills for someone else's healing.

And sometimes, as Benjamin's family discovered, pilots give even more. They rent cars when weather grounds flights. They provide reassurance to nervous first-time flyers. They turn what could be just transportation into an experience of genuine human kindness.

Who Can Be Helped by Volunteer Pilots?

Volunteer pilot flights through Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic are available for patients who:

• Need to travel 100-475 miles one-way to reach medical care
• Are ambulatory (able to walk onto the aircraft, though mobility aids can be accommodated)
• Can sit upright for the duration of the flight
• Meet financial eligibility guidelines
• Have a medical appointment that can be scheduled with adequate notice

Children under 18 must travel with a companion, and companions are welcome on all flights when space and weight allow.

Flights are coordinated based on volunteer pilot availability, weather conditions, and patient needs. The pilots in this network serve communities across the Mid-Atlantic region, turning their passion for aviation into missions of mercy.

Are You a Pilot Who Wants to Make a Difference?

Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic is always looking for volunteer pilots who want to use their skills and aircraft for something meaningful. If you have:

• A current pilot certificate and medical
• Access to an aircraft (owned or rented)
• A desire to turn your passion for flying into life-changing impact
• Flexibility to fly missions when your schedule allows

...we'd love to hear from you.

Every mission you fly connects a patient with care they couldn't otherwise reach. Every hour in the cockpit becomes an hour of hope for a family in crisis. Every gallon of fuel carries someone closer to healing.

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