Air Care Alliance
Angel Flights and numerous other organizations offering free air transportation for medical need.
Air Care Alliance Mission Statement:
"The Air Care Alliance promotes,
supports, and represents public benefit
flying through communication and
cooperation among organizations
facilitating flights for health, compassion,
and community service."
"The Air Care Alliance promotes,
supports, and represents public benefit
flying through communication and
cooperation among organizations
facilitating flights for health, compassion,
and community service."
Unfortunately, there is not a Ponseti Method physician on every
corner...yet. Until then, getting your child to a qualified doctor may
involve some travel - maybe even a lot of travel! Free or discount
airfare may become necessary.
I took my first Angel Flight from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Iowa City,
Iowa on February 14th, 2000, delivering Brian to Dr. Ponseti for
treatment. Over the course of that spring, summer and early fall,
Brian and I made about four trips to Iowa City, maybe five, I really
tend to forget these details.
If nothing else, it was certainly an adventure - but it was more than
that, it was a sure enough life saver for Brian who would not have
been able to get his Ponseti care through any other means available
to me at that time.
AirLifeLine, Air Charity, EAA Young Eagles, Angel Flights, Miracle
Flights for Kids, SkyDoc, Inc and Air Mercy are just a few of the
groups that make up the huge list of Public Benefit Flying Groups
connected with Air Care Alliance.
Dedicated to helping others in times of medical need or disaster, the
Air Care Alliance pilots may very well be your own personal life line
between getting the Ponseti Method for your child, or not.
If finding transportation to and from the doctor you need is otherwise
not possible, please follow the link to ACA's list of volunteer flying
groups for potential assistance.
Air Care Alliance Web Page and Group Listings.
Tips for traveling by air in small, non-commercial craft:
An aircraft-approved child safety seat will be required for children
who are young / small enough to still require them in a car. Most car
seats pass this approval. If in doubt, read the labels stuck to your
child's seat. If airline approved, it will be stated on the label.
Angel Flight had a maximum weight for carry on luggage when I
was flying with them. Be sure to check with your pilot before flight
day to see what you can take, and what you cannot.
Many of these flights will also restrict the number of people who
may fly - such as allowing only the patient-child involved along with
one adult care taker, i.e. a parent or guardian.
Small planes are cold, even in July. You may dress appropriately
for ground temperatures, but take sweaters, coats, blankets and/or
other snuggly items to cuddle beneath during your flight. You'll be
glad you did!
Take snacks. These small planes fly slower than the big ones, you
might be up there a while. When packing your snacks however,
keep in mind that these are privately owned airplanes, meaning
there isn't a janitorial crew waiting back on the ground to clean it up
later. Some of these air chairty flight planes are small corporate jets
complete with leather seatings - try to keep messes and spills to a
minimum, and easy to clean up.
Restrict your "carry on" toys, books, entertainment. The cockpits
of these airplanes can be quite cramped.
Be prepared for flight delays. Wind and storms have a greater
impact on small aircraft than they would on commercial size planes.
Your pilot may choose to abort the flight days, hours and even
moments before your scheduled take off. Make sure your ride
home hasn't left the air port yet! Likewise, the delay can last for
moments, hours or days depending on the weather system.
Understand these pilots volunteer their time, money and air
plane - and they are only humans just like you. At times there will be
circumstances beyond your pilot's control that causes him to cancel
an arranged flight, leaving you to locate another volunteer who can
fly you. The flight group you are contracting with will assist in every
possible way to get you in the air and to your destination as quickly
as possible.
When staying in a Ronald McDonald House, it is wise to ask the
manager to please keep your room reserved for you until you know
for sure that your plane is actually going to take off that day. On two
occasions I left the RMD and traveled to the Iowa City airport only to
come right back due to weather delays...it was good to have a room
to come back to!
Be polite and courteous to your pilot and flight group personnel at all
times!
corner...yet. Until then, getting your child to a qualified doctor may
involve some travel - maybe even a lot of travel! Free or discount
airfare may become necessary.
I took my first Angel Flight from Fort Smith, Arkansas to Iowa City,
Iowa on February 14th, 2000, delivering Brian to Dr. Ponseti for
treatment. Over the course of that spring, summer and early fall,
Brian and I made about four trips to Iowa City, maybe five, I really
tend to forget these details.
If nothing else, it was certainly an adventure - but it was more than
that, it was a sure enough life saver for Brian who would not have
been able to get his Ponseti care through any other means available
to me at that time.
AirLifeLine, Air Charity, EAA Young Eagles, Angel Flights, Miracle
Flights for Kids, SkyDoc, Inc and Air Mercy are just a few of the
groups that make up the huge list of Public Benefit Flying Groups
connected with Air Care Alliance.
Dedicated to helping others in times of medical need or disaster, the
Air Care Alliance pilots may very well be your own personal life line
between getting the Ponseti Method for your child, or not.
If finding transportation to and from the doctor you need is otherwise
not possible, please follow the link to ACA's list of volunteer flying
groups for potential assistance.
Air Care Alliance Web Page and Group Listings.
Tips for traveling by air in small, non-commercial craft:
An aircraft-approved child safety seat will be required for children
who are young / small enough to still require them in a car. Most car
seats pass this approval. If in doubt, read the labels stuck to your
child's seat. If airline approved, it will be stated on the label.
Angel Flight had a maximum weight for carry on luggage when I
was flying with them. Be sure to check with your pilot before flight
day to see what you can take, and what you cannot.
Many of these flights will also restrict the number of people who
may fly - such as allowing only the patient-child involved along with
one adult care taker, i.e. a parent or guardian.
Small planes are cold, even in July. You may dress appropriately
for ground temperatures, but take sweaters, coats, blankets and/or
other snuggly items to cuddle beneath during your flight. You'll be
glad you did!
Take snacks. These small planes fly slower than the big ones, you
might be up there a while. When packing your snacks however,
keep in mind that these are privately owned airplanes, meaning
there isn't a janitorial crew waiting back on the ground to clean it up
later. Some of these air chairty flight planes are small corporate jets
complete with leather seatings - try to keep messes and spills to a
minimum, and easy to clean up.
Restrict your "carry on" toys, books, entertainment. The cockpits
of these airplanes can be quite cramped.
Be prepared for flight delays. Wind and storms have a greater
impact on small aircraft than they would on commercial size planes.
Your pilot may choose to abort the flight days, hours and even
moments before your scheduled take off. Make sure your ride
home hasn't left the air port yet! Likewise, the delay can last for
moments, hours or days depending on the weather system.
Understand these pilots volunteer their time, money and air
plane - and they are only humans just like you. At times there will be
circumstances beyond your pilot's control that causes him to cancel
an arranged flight, leaving you to locate another volunteer who can
fly you. The flight group you are contracting with will assist in every
possible way to get you in the air and to your destination as quickly
as possible.
When staying in a Ronald McDonald House, it is wise to ask the
manager to please keep your room reserved for you until you know
for sure that your plane is actually going to take off that day. On two
occasions I left the RMD and traveled to the Iowa City airport only to
come right back due to weather delays...it was good to have a room
to come back to!
Be polite and courteous to your pilot and flight group personnel at all
times!
| Return to Air Care Alliance Top of Page six-feet.com |
Brian, age 2 years, and
myself boarding the
plane for our last Angel
Flight to Iowa City, Iowa
taking off from Davis Air
Field in Muskogee,
Oklahoma, September
2000.
This was actually one of
the larger planes we
flew on.
myself boarding the
plane for our last Angel
Flight to Iowa City, Iowa
taking off from Davis Air
Field in Muskogee,
Oklahoma, September
2000.
This was actually one of
the larger planes we
flew on.
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There is a very small airport in Iowa
City, and when I flew Angel Flights
this is where I landed.
However, if you are booking a
commercial filght to see the doctors
at the Ponseti Clubfoot Clinic, try to
fly into Cedar Rapids Iowa.
It is about 15 minutes from the
University of Iowa (Iowa City) and is
super easy to get in and out of.
There are only about ten gates in
the whole airport so it isn't crowded
at all. The airport code is CID if
you plan on using an online travel
site.
City, and when I flew Angel Flights
this is where I landed.
However, if you are booking a
commercial filght to see the doctors
at the Ponseti Clubfoot Clinic, try to
fly into Cedar Rapids Iowa.
It is about 15 minutes from the
University of Iowa (Iowa City) and is
super easy to get in and out of.
There are only about ten gates in
the whole airport so it isn't crowded
at all. The airport code is CID if
you plan on using an online travel
site.
I've seen a lot of people ask about
airport security with the FAB. Here
is a direct quote from the TSA website:
"Security Officers should not be asking
you to remove your orthopedic
shoes, appliances, or medical device
(insulin pump, feeding tube,
ostomy or urine bag, or exterior
component of cochlear implant) at
any time during the screening process."
You can see the full text here:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/sp
ecialneeds/editorial_1370.sht
m#3
(Thank you Kaci for this information!)
Another great tip: Never put your
child's foot abduction brace in your
luggage. Carry it on to the plane with
you in case your luggage gets lost!
airport security with the FAB. Here
is a direct quote from the TSA website:
"Security Officers should not be asking
you to remove your orthopedic
shoes, appliances, or medical device
(insulin pump, feeding tube,
ostomy or urine bag, or exterior
component of cochlear implant) at
any time during the screening process."
You can see the full text here:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/sp
ecialneeds/editorial_1370.sht
m#3
(Thank you Kaci for this information!)
Another great tip: Never put your
child's foot abduction brace in your
luggage. Carry it on to the plane with
you in case your luggage gets lost!