Pilots are Angels to those in need - The Story of Angel Flight

Pilots are Angels to those in need -
The Story of Angel Flight
by Di Freeze

SEPTEMBER 2000

Two-year-old Niklas Ruiz was recently diagnosed with a chronic virus in his right lung. Niklas, who has a chronic immune deficiency, had already had four bouts with pneumonia. Doctors in Dallas advised Niklas' parents Ben and Andrea Ruiz that they should take him to National Jewish Hospital in Denver for extensive testing.

With Niklas unable to make the trip by car due to his health problems, and with no funds for airfare, the Ruiz family tried unsuccessfully to get help from American and Delta Airlines. They received help from Angel Flight after a friend found out about the organization from Children's Hospital in Dallas. Angel Flight posted their mission on their website, and within a few days, got back with the family. It was all set.

Within two weeks, Niklas and his parents were on their way to Denver. American Airlines pilot, Tom Traverse, picked them up in Amarillo, two miles from their home in Mesquite, and transported them to Dallas. Pilot Habib Nasrullah, a defense attorney, and co-pilot Ramon Glaser, a flight instructor for Aspen Flying Club at Centennial Airport, were there to meet them. Within the hour, they were on their way to Colorado in a Baron Be-55 owned by Nasrullah and Angel Flight Colorado founder Mark Greenberg.

Angel Flight is an organization of pilots, which transports patients into and out of hard to reach locations and/or transports patients and their families who are financially unable to get transport in cases of medical emergencies. Mark Greenberg founded the Colorado chapter of Angel Flight about three years ago, after hearing about the California based Angel Flight West. "There was nothing like it in Colorado," Greenberg said. "Pilots need a good reason to fly, so we gave them one."

Greenberg is the Colorado chapter's wing leader and is on the board of directors.

There are approximately 30 pilots and 70 members in the Colorado chapter of the organization. Their pilots come from all different walks of life and live as far south as Colorado Springs and as far north as Longmont. Although most fly out of Centennial Airport, some fly out of other airports including Jefferson County and Front Range.

"We do this for free, there's no catches," says Greenberg.

The planes used by Angel Flight can usually carry four to six passengers, which means that the patient can fly with family members or friends.

Some patients and their families have expressed a concern over flying in smaller aircraft than they're used to, but Angel Flight has an incredible safety record. They nationally flew 1,200 missions last year with no accidents or incidences. Angel Flight is not an air ambulance service, and can only accept patients who are medically stable, able to board and exit with minor assistance, and able to sit up and wear a seatbelt. Patients or their families fill out an application before and sign a liability waiver.

In May, the individual Angel Flight chapters united under a mother organization, Angel Flight America. Each agency provides its own coordinator for missions. When a mission is received, Angel Flight America coordinates the missions by faxing a memo from its headquarters to the individual organization in the area where the mission is needed.

"A lot of times missions will be taken before they've even been entered into the computer," Greenberg says.

Angel Flight works with several hospitals in the area, including Children's Hospital, National Jewish, and University Hospital. They use donations received from member dues and organizations to spread the word about their missions to different hospitals, organizations and individuals through production and distribution of videos and brochures, and for welcome cards with the pilots and co-pilots names on them that are given to patients and families when they board the aircraft.

They have also worked with blood banks and mother's milk banks. Angel Flight is a tax deductible, charitable organization. For more information regarding Angel Flight contact Mark Greenberg at (303) 808-8282.

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