Wings of Hope Medical Relief and Air Transport Program Connects Families with Critical Care

By Carmelo Turdo

Wings of Hope, the global humanitarian aviation nonprofit organization based at Spirit of St. Louis Airport, continues to serve those in need around the world and here in the Midwest. For over sixty years, Wings of Hope has provided aircraft and supported aviation programs to sustain and improve the lives of people in Central and South America, Africa and Asiana through partnerships with local non-governmental organizations, churches and healthcare providers. Here in the U.S, the Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program provides a critical airlift mission for those needing regular treatments at specialty facilities in 26 states within 800 miles of St. Louis without charge to the patient.

The first MAT Program flight was made in 2003 using the single-engine, high wing Cessna 206 aircraft shown below in the Wings of Hope hangar. This aircraft type is frequently used in humanitarian operations around the world due to its high useful load and ability to operate out of smaller airstrips. The current aircraft fleet consists of two Piper Senecas and a Piper Navajo, twin-engine aircraft flying with two pilots, a flight nurse and/or doctor along with the patient and accompanying family member. Patients are usually ambulatory, but they can also be transported on a medical bed in the aircraft if necessary. Each volunteer flight crew brings a wealth of commercial flying experience and servant's spirit to every MAT flight.

Current and new patients can apply for flights by contacting the Wings of Hope Flight Operations Department. Most treatment plans require repeated flights to specialty cancer, orthopedic or cardiology centers over months or years, and the MAT Program covers the transportation and lodging for each trip. Flight schedules vary from week to week, with some days launching two flights. 

During a recent visit to Wings of Hope, we captured the departure of an MAT flight carrying a two-year-old patient to his new home in Cincinnati, OH. Here we show the pre-flight check and fueling, patient boarding in the hangar and the takeoff.

The Aero Experience thanks Wings of Hope for providing the Medical Relief and Air Transport Program.  We also thank those donors, large and small, who make this service available to patients and their families at no cost to them. Please consider donating to Wings of Hope and become part of their life-changing mission to "Change and Save Lives Through the Power of Aviation."