How does Angel Flight Work?
We work with our team of generous volunteers in the sky and on the ground to transfer passengers from their nearest airport, to the relevant medical facilities anywhere in Australia. All flights are free for passengers.
Our flights are not emergency flights, and our pilots do not carry aeromedical staff or medical equipment.
How to request a flight with Angel Flight
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. It’s quick and easy to register online – click here to register as a health professional.
Once registered, health professionals familiar with their patient’s condition must consider our eligibility criteria before referring passengers to Angel Flight. To meet our guidelines, adult passengers must be medically stable and physically able to enter and exit a small aircraft (involving large steps, twists, bends) without assistance; sit up in the aircraft with a seatbelt on for an extended period of time; and if necessary communicate with the pilot. Young and disabled children must be accompanied by an adult capable of moving the child in and out of the aircraft.
If you are uncertain if you meet our guidelines, please feel free to contact us.
Depending on the locations involved, we require 5 – 10 working days’ notice for transport assistance.
Once we have received a referral and approved the passenger, we invite applications from our generous volunteer pilots and drivers. We will then notify the referrer and passenger of all arrangements once finalised.
If you are someone who requires medical treatment and would like to request a flight with Angel Flight, speak to your health professional about referring you.
Travelling with Angel Flight isn’t the same as travelling with a commercial airline. To meet our guidelines, passengers must be medically stable, ambulatory and physically able to enter and exit a small aircraft (involving large steps, twists, bends) without assistance from the pilot, and sit up in the aircraft with a seatbelt on for an extended period of time. They must also be able to communicate with the pilot, although carers may be able to assist with this. Children must always be accompanied by an adult, who can assist with entry, exit and other needs of the child. We encourage a friend or relative to travel with the patient.
Flights are conducted by volunteer pilots in their own aircraft. Volunteer pilots come from all walks of life and donate their time, their skills and most of their aircraft costs for each flight. Our volunteer pilot flight credentials exceed the requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for the carriage of passengers, and the aircraft meet specified CASA and insurance minimums.
There’s nothing like having a friendly face waiting when you arrive. When your aircraft lands at the relevant airport, volunteer drivers may be available to provide ground transportation to the medical facility and back. Ground transport is not provided in the passenger’s home town, for example from your home to the local airport.
Have more questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
TAKING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTO RURAL AUSTRALIA
In addition to our core service, Angel Flight has launched a new service dedicated to taking health professionals to the bush and back. The service is called Rural Medi Flights
Beginning operations in early 2024, Rural Medi-Flights operates from Archerfield, Brisbane and services doctors travelling to rural and remote parts of Queensland.
The first of the proposed fleet of aircraft operates under airline safety standards. The 8-10 seat cabin-class twin-engine aircraft, named Kayla, transports health professionals for a small fraction of the cost of larger air ambulance aircraft allowing health providers to reach more country people more often.
The size of the aircraft enables it to land at all country town airfields, and most communities across Queensland.
Angel Flight plans to expand the Queensland based service to become a national operation, with a dedicated aircraft in each capital city, Cairns and Port Hedland. However, this plan will not come to fruition without government funding or significant private funding.
