We’ve spent nearly four decades—and provided more than 90,000 flights—creating pathways to healthcare across the Western United States, arranging donated flights to people in need and providing them safe passage to and from medical care. Transportation challenges create one of the most daunting barriers to healthcare—a barrier second only to the cost. Every day, Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots fly people to their medical appointments at no cost to the passenger.

A small child, ravaged by cancer, needs lifesaving treatment at a hospital 300 miles away. A father, separated from his family by a hurricane, longs to be reunited. A domestic-violence survivor wants desperately to start a new life in another city. At Angel Flight West, we offer help and hope to people like these every day.

There’s an angel in the cockpit.

The ability to travel easily across the country is something that most of us take for granted. But for those in critical situations, the financial, physical, and emotional burdens can make an ordinary trip extraordinarily difficult. That’s when they turn to Angel Flight West. Our network of 1,800+ volunteer pilots fly their own planes and pay for all costs out of their own pockets in order to make these important journeys.

From our headquarters in Santa Monica, California, our dedicated team manages the process that make our work possible: arranging all missions, matching pilots with passengers, spreading the word throughout the healthcare and social work communities, and continuously recruiting new volunteers. It’s much like running a small airline, carried out with extra compassion. On the ground, Earth Angels drive passengers from the airport to the medical facility, also free of cost.

All services are free to our passengers, their families, and healthcare organizations. And AFW’s Mission Coordinators handle each request with care and confidentiality. 

We love to fly. And we want to help.

Who are these pilots, and why do they give so much of their time and money to help strangers? They’re engineers, scientists, and teachers. Doctors, lawyers, and corporate executives. Retired commercial pilots and young entrepreneurs. But as different as these individual pilots might be, they all have two things in common: the love of flying, and the desire to touch people’s lives.

We’re dependable. We’re here when you need us.

Not only have we earned the gratitude of our passengers, we’ve earned the trust and respect of a long list of organizations: large research hospitals, children’s hospitals, VA hospitals, specialized treatment centers, small rural healthcare center, children’s protective services, domestic violence shelters, and special camps for children with medical needs.

When someone’s transportation needs are a barrier to accessing the care they need, organizations both large and small know they can depend on Angel Flight West. We’re proud to help them.

AFW flys children to the CHLA!