Angel Flight

[Guest guest]

The manager of Cancer Survivors On Line II posted this

info. I though it was important enough to share with

all of you and was graciously invited to do so. Please

share it with anyone you know who may need it, as well

as with any other groups you may be involved with that

would have an interest in Angel Flight. Blessings,

Note: forwarded message attached.

[Guest guest]

Additional info on Angel Flight. Blessings,

Note: forwarded message attached.

[Guest guest]

More additional info on Angel Flight! Blessings,

Note: forwarded message attached.

[Guest guest]

I agree with Carla Kay, that the volunteers with Angel Flight, that I know personally, give top-notch care and the pilots have their commercial license. Maybe it depends on the area, as to the quality and respect the Angel Flight volunteers have and give. As with any organization, there is one or one group that tends to ruin it for others.

Llweyn

-----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ]On Behalf Of singer4jc7494@...Sent: January 31, 2006 10:50 AM Subject: [ ] Angel FlightDear all,I cannot remember who it was on this list that advised against using Angel Flight, but I feel that I must respond.They are a reputable agency who provides their services FREE for those in need. As far as any safety concerns, I can say that I have found them to be OVERcautious - which I think is wonderful. The only "problem" I've ever had ( & they've flown me all up & down the east coast several times) with them has involved having to reschedule due to the pilots being very conscientous. So this wasn't really a "problem" IMO. In addition, it is a Christian orgainization. These people will pray for you - even if you don't ask. And the pilots are wonderful. My last flight with them was postponed due to the weather, which would have meant I'd have to stay in a motel a few more nights (which I generally try to prepare for "just in case"). The pilots all chipped in & flew my dd & I home on a commercial airline. I'd NEVER flown commercial & my first pilot stayed in contact with me & the airports until I made it home - just to be sure we were ok. He even called ahead to make sure they'd have a w/c waiting on me. Oh, & did I mention they provide their services - their time, planes, maintenance, & fuel - for FREE. We've always been treated with respect & they've always done anything in their power to make us comfortable. In all honesty, comparing the experiences of commercial v/s small aircraft, I'd rather fly in the small aircraft. By the time you deal with the layovers in commercial travel, the faster engines don't make any difference. You are still on a plane for the same amount of time. Furthermore, if I did NOT utilize this service, I'd never have been able to have my last surgery, which means that at best, I'd still be bedfast & in a wheelchair on very, very good days. No thanks - I'll stick with Angel Flight.Blessings,Carla KayPs. 96:1,3, & 4a Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise...

[Guest guest]

Carla, It was me who commented on Angel Flight and I stand by my

assertion that it should be your last choice of travel...when their

are not other regulated carriers available.

I have been an air traffic controller for 24-1/2 years, so as you

speak as an R.N....I speak as someone who has seen the good, the

bad, and the ugly.

Yes, they are a compassionate caring bunch, generally. That does not

mean they are qualified, or equiped, or have sufficient experience

to handle to handle what can happen in difficult situations.

If you were to access the FAA's site you would see that most

accidents/fatalities occur within the relm of " general

aviation " ...and this is the segment of the aviation world you are

working with. Alternatly, when you are carrying passengers for

compensation or hire the standards of pilot training and aircraft

utilization, complete with weather capability and twin engine

operation requirements in poosr weather is signifigantly greater.

So yes, on the one hand I am the first to tell you that flying is a

very safe endeavor, very much safer than driving....but putting

yourself in the hands of a pilot and aircraft that you know nothing

about is the exact same thing as getting into a car with someone you

don't know....or signing up for revision surgery with a doctor who

has never done one. I am very glad that Carla was able to travel

this way and it worked out for her....of course usually it

does....but if you have an appointment that you have waited for or

have just been discharged from major surgery...do you really want to

find yourself at the hands of an inexperienced pilot or find your

trip cancelled due to inclement weather?

So again, if it works for you....by all means sign up. I still

suggest that you look at the real costs of travel by certified (FAR

Part 135 or 121 rs)....at least you will know what you are

buying.

Cam

(p.s. A commercial license is really not much of an upgrade from a

private license. Until someone is holding an ATP rating, multi

engine, IFR qualified, you haven't really crossed into the relm of

certification wherre you could be hired by any aviation concern that

flies folks from point A to point B for $$. I am sure they tell you

they are commercially rated becasue it makes you feel better. If you

had seen the young commercial pilot make many attempted landings at

my airport with frightened passengers in the back I think you would

understand me. Incidently while this event was going on the airlines

were handling the brisk cross-wind with no difficulty. There is no

specific oversight of Angel Flight by the FAA..other than its pilots

must comply with the rules for " general aviation " .)

[Guest guest]

Cam,

I believe EVERYTHING you said to Carla Kay. But, she said early on that she had no money. Would commercial airlines help the needy ill?

I am VERY impressed with your experience. Are you doing this on the island, or do you commute to Logan? We have so many very bright people in this group I can't get over it!

Sincerely,

Carole

[Guest guest]

Carole,

I don't have information on what each airline will do in the event

that a seriously ill person needs travel...a call to the airline or a

travel agent would probably be best. I do know that in this day and

age with airfares at an all time low, with prior planning, it should

be possible to find very reasonable fares.

And yes, I am an air traffic controller on the island...home to some

of the most challenging flying conditions on the east coast, so

perhaps that explains my lack of interest in flying with non-

professionals.

Take Care Carole! Cam

[Guest guest]

Cam -

Both my brother-in-law and his wife are airline mechanics with

Delta, and just got laid off after 30 years with them :-(

~~

>

> Carole,

>

> I don't have information on what each airline will do in the event

> that a seriously ill person needs travel...a call to the airline

or a

> travel agent would probably be best. I do know that in this day

and

> age with airfares at an all time low, with prior planning, it

should

> be possible to find very reasonable fares.

>

> And yes, I am an air traffic controller on the island...home to

some

> of the most challenging flying conditions on the east coast, so

> perhaps that explains my lack of interest in flying with non-

> professionals.

>

> Take Care Carole! Cam

>

[Guest guest]

Cam,

Please understand what great credit I give you! WOW! That is quite a job! And, I understand even better now that you have explained about calling an airline or travel bureau in the case of transporting an ill person.

I haven't been out to Nantucket in years, but I do know that you are certainly right about the challenging weather! You have a very important job! May I ask how you got into this livelihood? It's just so interesting!

I've been wondering if insurances would ever help people who need to travel for surgery. I guess that is chasing rainbows, right?

I have never actually done that. When I had my one and only scoliosis surgery, it was at the Brigham, and we were already where we are now, south of Boston. In fact, at the insistence of our daughter and son-in-law (both medical professionals) Tom and I transferred all of our medical care into Boston in 1991. At that point I was VERY ill with bilateral pyelonephritis. It was the year before everything going on sort of melted into my having the Harrington/Luque rods put in.

Anyway, I didn't know the "ins and outs" of this Angel Flight stuff, and understand it far better now. Thank you for telling us how it actually works. Maybe people could just call a Medflight?

Sincerely,

Carole

[Guest guest]

Cam,

Yours is a really neat story! I really wasn't thinking of traveling by angel flights myself, but was thinking of Carla Kay.

Good for you with your 25 years! Now you can decide what you want to be when you "grow up" as I always say! I still haven't really decided, even though now, at times, I look at it in reverse -- what would I have done differently. I know I'd marry my husband, but I think I would have worked harder to do things I wanted to do for a living. He didn't stop me. My family didn't feel they could afford college for girls, so my two brothers went to college, two girls became secretaries and eventually office managers, and my older sister persevered and got her degrees, including her master's when she was much older! You are young enough for another career! My husband is a chemical engineer and we were married half way through his college, so I really helped him make it. He took an early retirement from a company here, and then had a whole new career at MWRA, cleaning the harbor.

Enough about us. You certainly are a very interesting person!

Sincerely,

Carole PS -- I'll be rooting for you for June!

[Guest guest]

Carole,

I don't know about insurance reimbursement for travel....although my

mother was transported by medivac helicopter off the island twice to

Boston. She was reimbursed for most of it. I think it depends on the

care required and the condition of the patient as to if your

insurance will pay.

I am sure that to the extend that your travel is in connection with

qualified medical expenses the cost assoiciated with travel are also

eligible deductions for those that itemize their taxes....and with

the bills we have had this year...for the first time we might have

actually spent enough for it to count.

Anyway, if you want any chance of reimbursement I am guessing you

would have to let the hospital make the arragements....because they

would have to certify that other, cheaper means of transport were

not an option. There is always the possibiltiy of private charter, I

guess.. folks do it out here from time to time.

I became an air traffic controller by accident...I was working out

here over the summers at the airport and met some

controllers...ended up taking the test and eventually was hired. A

fluke...not what I thought I would be doing for a living...

Now if all the stars align I retire in June after 25 years....and I

get to get back to deciding what I want to do with my life all over

again! It is very exciting...I am glad now that I didn't wait to

have the revision...otherwise I would be looking forward to that

instead...NOT!

Take Care, Cam

[Guest guest]

Some insurance plans do cover travel expenses and food for you and a

companion. You need to call ahead and get approval first.

I got to be a self described insurance expert after 3 years of dealing

with my daughters disability.

I tend to read everything that I get from my insurance company.

If anyone needs help with insurance or billing issues, I would be glad

to help out.

pc

>

> Cam,

> Please understand what great credit I give you! WOW! That is

quite a job!

> And, I understand even better now that you have explained about

calling an

> airline or travel bureau in the case of transporting an ill person.

>

> I haven't been out to Nantucket in years, but I do know that you are

> certainly right about the challenging weather! You have a very

important job! May

> I ask how you got into this livelihood? It's just so interesting!

>

> I've been wondering if insurances would ever help people who need

to travel

> for surgery. I guess that is chasing rainbows, right?

>

> I have never actually done that. When I had my one and only scoliosis

> surgery, it was at the Brigham, and we were already where we are

now, south of

> Boston. In fact, at the insistence of our daughter and son-in-law

(both medical

> professionals) Tom and I transferred all of our medical care into

Boston in

> 1991. At that point I was VERY ill with bilateral pyelonephritis.

It was

> the year before everything going on sort of melted into my having the

> Harrington/Luque rods put in.

>

> Anyway, I didn't know the " ins and outs " of this Angel Flight

stuff, and

> understand it far better now. Thank you for telling us how it

actually works.

> Maybe people could just call a Medflight?

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Carole

>

[Guest guest]

Has anyone used them? Did you have to stay over or where you able to fly back the same day? We are looking into using them for some of our trips to Dallas when it will just be me and Maddie. Madison almost 7 months old DOC band comes in 3/30!

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