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."

Elite Aviation Is St. Louis Region's Cessna Pilot Training Center and Aircraft Maintenance Provider

By Carmelo Turdo

 Elite Aviation is the St. Louis area's premier flight training center, conveniently located in the Spirit of St. Louis Airport West Terminal. They offer experienced instructors, a structured Cessna Pilot Center ground school program, a modern aircraft fleet and advanced Redbird MCX full-motion flight simulator training through Alpha Flight Simulation. Elite Aviation also provides aircraft rental and maintenance services, and they are an FAA-approved written examination testing station. 

Elite Aviation now offers a growing number of Cessna 172S Skyhawks along with a Piper Turbo Saratoga and Tecnam P2006T multi-engine trainer. Their in-house experienced service team maintains the fleet and customer aircraft from around the region. 

Elite Aviation is more than a flight school, or even an aircraft rental and maintenance center. They are a family business that treats their customers and staff like family, extending that invitation to the community through numerous educational and charitable endeavors. Elite Aviation is a major sponsor of the St. Louis Red Tail Cadet program, now having graduated the fourth class of high school student participants. A growing number of former Elite Aviation CFIs have moved up to fly with jet charter companies and the major airlines. 

During a recent visit, we caught a few of the Skyhawks departing for afternoon training flights, and later a beautiful sunset on the north apron.

Elite Aviation provides general aviation aircraft maintenance services, including annual and periodic inspections, airframe and sheet metal repairs, engine cylinder and accessory replacement and avionics diagnostics. The training and rental fleet aircraft receive frequent standard inspections, and a Cessna 172 undergoing an engine change is a common sight in the Elite Aviation hangar. Here we feature post-maintenance engine run-ups and a customer aircraft being positioned in the hangar.

Alpha Flight Simulation offers the full-motion Redbird MCX configured in the Cessna 172 (steam gauges and G1000 panels) and the Beech Baron G1000. The MCX is ideal for Instrument training/approaches and ATP-level Crew Resource Management. Contact Alpha Flight Simulation for a visit and demonstration. 

Contact Elite Aviation today for more information about flight training, aircraft rental and maintenance services. The Aero Experience thanks Elite Aviation for being our longest-running sponsor of Midwest Aviation coverage.