Angel Flight NZ co-ordinates non-emergency flights, assisting people who are financially disadvantaged with a medical condition and long distances to travel, by flying them to an airport near their medical treatment facility.
Angel Flight NZ was founded on November 23, 2011 by retired businessman and pilot Lance Weller, who had already flown ten Angel Flight missions in Australia. “I saw firsthand on all of these ten flights, how appreciative our patients were by reducing their previously stressful travel time down to just a few hours. On returning to NZ after being away for 43 years, I asked about the possibility of flying Angel Flights, but was told the organisation didn’t exist in NZ”, emphasised Lance. So Lance would have his own aircraft in NZ to begin flying Angel Flights there, he flew his Cirrus SR20G3 aircraft from Brisbane to NZ via Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands in January 2012.
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| Angel Flight NZ Founder/Chairman and Rotarian Lance Weller with his Cirrus SR20G3 aircraft. |
“Our goal is to improve lives, one flight at a time, by providing not just less stressful transportation, but also care and compassion” added Lance.
Rotary has been an important part in helping Lance Weller establish Angel Flight NZ. He is a Rotarian of 30 years who lives near Whangarei, and his two most senior coordinators are Roger Leadbeater (Rotary Club of Orewa) and John Pringle (Takapuna North). About 25% of Angel Flight NZ pilots are Rotarians. Lance and Roger are members of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians who have been very helpful, and donated money raised at a 2012 IFFR Meeting. Other Flying Rotarian pilots include Phil Pacey (Drury) and Fred Bain (Pukekohe). The Rotary Club of Whangarei are their largest donor so far with NZ$10,000 donated. This charity is funded by Rotary, private and corporate donations.
Flight and road transport are provided free of charge by our team of volunteers. Angel Flight NZ needs more Sky Angel pilots in cockpits in Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, Paraparaumu and the South Island who can make the time to “improve lives one flight at a time”. More Earth Angel car drivers in Christchurch and Wellington/Paraparaumu to meet flights and drive passengers to their medical appointments are also needed.
Go to www.angelflightnz.co.nz to find out more about volunteering or to make a donation.
Angel Flight also operates in Australia (www.angelflight.org.au) and USA.
Angel Flight NZ situation as at December 4, 2012: |
| Pilot Alastair Leggat preparing the aircraft, while Shannon and Magic Hoani wait patiently. |
4,838 kilometres flown.
$5,982 of aircraft time donated by Pilots.
886 km driven by Earth Angels.
18 adults and 10 children flown.
40 registered Pilots and aircraft in Whangarei, North Shore, Whenuapai, Ardmore, Hamilton, Wellington, Nelson, Hastings, Whakatane and Christchurch.
Landing fees waived at all airports Angel Flight NZ flies to.
35 Earth Angels mainly in Auckland, but also in Whangarei, Wellington and Christchurch.
5 Mission Coordinators.
Total Volunteer Team of 80 people ready to help people in more distant towns of NZ.
Travel free by air and road to major hospitals for non-urgent medical appointments or care.
Related link: http://www.iffr.org.nz/
