FAQs

Established in April 2003, Angel Flight Australia is a charity which coordinates non-emergency flights to assist people living in country areas to access specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of vast distance and high travel costs.

We have assisted people to access treatment for a wide range of conditions, including kidney and liver problems, cancer, heart issues, cystic fibrosis, leukemia, cochlear implants and many more. We also assist with the transport of medical supplies, equipment and PPE as well as transporting medical staff to rural and remote areas. Angel Flight has over 3000 pilots and more than 4700 registered drivers who assist Australia-wide. 

Our flights are medical transportation, and not an emergency service. Angel Flight volunteer pilots are not medically trained and do not carry aero-medical staff or medical equipment so the flights that Angel Flight provides do not act as an alternative to the Royal Flying Doctor Service or Air Ambulance.

Angel Flight is a charitable organisation, and all flights are free and assist passengers travelling to or from medical facilities almost anywhere in Australia.

Angel Flight is an Australian charity, and assistance is available to people who are medically disadvantaged, such as families who have been devastated by medical bills due to illness, accidents, or other chronic conditions, and those who have a need for our compassion flights. Additionally we transport medical professionals to and from rural areas and students for placement in rural hospitals.

Passengers must be able to enter and exit a light aircraft without assistance and be able to sit upright and communicate with the pilot. Passengers must not require medical care during the flight. A companion is welcome to travel with the passenger for support.

Young or disabled passengers must be accompanied by an adult capable of moving the child into and out of the aircraft.

Angel Flight can assist passengers on an ongoing basis, for example, to attend follow-up appointments or undertake a series of treatments for a condition, but passengers must not require medical care during the flight.

Angel Flight may also be able to assist with family flights for compassionate reasons, blood and blood products, medical equipment, personal protective equipment supplies (PPE), medical drugs, or other compassionate transfers. If you have a need for a compassionate flight, just ask us. 

There are a number of circumstances which are not suitable for Angel Flight, such as:

• international requests
• unaccompanied minors
• nursing home relocations
• adults who are not able to enter or exit the aircraft unaided.
• passengers requiring a rescue service or an air ambulance service, or who need monitoring by medical staff or medical equipment during the flight.
• passengers who are not medically stable or whose medical condition is unsuitable for transport in a non-pressurised light aircraft.
• passengers travelling for critical care (for example, an organ transplant) as flights can be delayed by the pilot or cancelled at short notice due to unsuitable weather conditions.

Flights are provided by volunteer pilots using their own aircraft or aircraft they have hired at their own expense. These aircraft are termed ‘General Aviation aircraft’ and most have 4 – 6 seats.

The aircraft will either be ‘High Wing’ where the wing is above the cockpit, and access is similar to getting into a 4WD, or ‘Low Wing’ where the cockpit is above the wing which requires passengers to climb up onto the wing and crouch down into the cockpit, a bit like getting into a small sports car.

Who flies the planes for Angel Flight?

Our incredible Angel Flight pilots are volunteers. Their flight credentials exceed the minimum requirements of CASA for private flights in Australia, and their aircraft meet specified regulatory and insurance minimums.

Our volunteer pilots come from all walks of life and are required to have more than 250 hours as a ‘Pilot in Command’, a current medical clearance, and all relevant experience and endorsements for the type of aircraft they will be flying.

Angel Flight volunteer pilots donate their time, their skills and the majority of their aircraft costs for each flight. To help offset the pilots’ operating costs, Angel Flight Australia subsidises fuel used on flights, negotiates the waiver of landing fees at many supporting airports around the country, and arranges the credit of any air navigation charges, thanks to the support of Airservices Australia. Donations to Angel Flight are used to subsidise fuel costs.

Our incredible Angel Flight pilots are volunteers. Their flight credentials exceed the minimum requirements of CASA for private flights in Australia, and their aircraft meet specified regulatory and insurance minimums.

Our volunteer pilots come from all walks of life and are required to have more than 250 hours as a ‘Pilot in Command’, a current medical clearance, and all relevant experience and endorsements for the type of aircraft they will be flying.

Angel Flight volunteer pilots donate their time, their skills and the majority of their aircraft costs for each flight. To help offset the pilots’ operating costs, Angel Flight Australia subsidises fuel used on flights, negotiates the waiver of landing fees at many supporting airports around the country, and arranges the credit of any air navigation charges, thanks to the support of Airservices Australia. Donations to Angel Flight are used to subsidise fuel costs.

Most flights will land at ‘GA’ or ‘General Aviation’ airports such as Bankstown in Sydney or Archerfield in Brisbane. If there is an appropriate airstrip in your home town, depending on weather conditions, Angel Flight pilots may be able to land there.

Arranging a flight with Angel Flight starts with a health professional, such as a medical practitioner, nurse or social worker. To refer passengers to Angel Flight, health professionals must first register with Angel Flight . Once registered, health professionals will consider the eligibility criteria before referring passengers to Angel Flight. 

If you are someone who requires medical treatment and would like to request a flight with Angel Flight, speak to your health professional.

Our volunteer drivers are only called on for assistance to meet an Angel Flight aircraft, and transport passengers to/from their appointment, or accommodation if the passengers have travelled the day prior or are returning the day after.

Angel Flight is a charity and is funded by private donations. We rely on the generous support of individuals, clubs and service clubs, large and small companies, and bequests, and have a policy to never follow up donors asking for more support.

Angel Flight is an exceptional charity in that we do not have a fundraising department. Money donated goes directly into operating costs. Donations are use to pay for:

• Fuel
• Discounted commercial flights when poor weather prevents light aircraft from flying
• The Angel Flight office that runs on a very small infrastructure, with six full-time coordinators who are assisted by volunteers.

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