Angel Flight East
Free Medical Flights · About this organization
What you get
Free volunteer-pilot flights to non-emergency medical appointments, with possible connecting flights and ground rides.
How to start
Fill in physician medical approval, third-party need verification, waiver, luggage, and passenger forms.
Good to know
- A backup transportation plan is required because flights may be canceled or unmatched.
- The passenger must be medically stable, ambulatory, and able to sit upright and board a small aircraft.
The details, as published
Free volunteer-pilot transportation for medically stable adults and children traveling 100–1,000 miles to scheduled non-emergency treatment. AFE may coordinate partner legs and ground transportation, but flights are not guaranteed.
What help you may get
Travel And Transportation
Free Medical Flights — travel and transportation
Free volunteer-pilot transportation for medically stable adults and children traveling 100–1,000 miles to scheduled non-emergency treatment. AFE may coordinate partner legs and ground transportation, but flights are not guaranteed.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- Possible Lyft trip between airport and hospital when requested and available
- Potential Lyft ground transportation between airport and hospital when available
- Volunteer-pilot medical flight
Does not cover
- Air-ambulance or in-flight medical care
- Guaranteed flight availability
- Meals
- Flights are provided at no cost.
- The official site states that recurring flights may continue as needed while eligibility and pilot availability continue.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. Children with B-ALL traveling to non-emergency care fall within the all-medical-condition scope.
Age
Age 0 to no published upper limit, measured at service date.
- The program flies adults and children.
Treatment status
Active Treatment
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- No numerical income rule is published on the reviewed official page.
- The reviewed official eligibility page does not publish a numeric income limit.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: Recorded restrictive authored residence list; broader footprint descriptions remain unresolved..
- Authored residence list is narrower than the recorded overall service footprint; the record contains no verbatim wider residence enumeration. Confirm the residence rule.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Patient, Social Worker, Community Referrer
- Complete physician medical approval, third-party need verification, waiver, luggage, and passenger forms.
- Maintain a backup travel plan in case weather or pilot availability prevents the flight.
- Return the required medical release and other paperwork.
- Submit the flight request after an appointment is scheduled.
- Submit the flight request and passenger worksheet.
- Wait for approval and volunteer-pilot matching.
- Wait for qualification and volunteer-pilot matching while maintaining a backup plan.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
- Phone · 215-358-1900 — Call for questions or assistance.
Documents to prepare
- Air Transport Waiver of Liability
- Appointment details
- Flight request worksheet
- Flight worksheet
- Liability forms
- Maximum Luggage Disclaimer
- Medical Approval Form
- Need Verification Form
- Passenger weights and baggage information
- Physician medical release
- After approval, staff recruit a volunteer pilot and the pilot coordinates final travel details.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Not Applicable |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- Pilot, aircraft, and weather availability are not guaranteed.
- AFE publishes a minimum 5–7 days' notice.
- Request flights after the appointment is scheduled.
- Official request materials ask for approximately five to seven days of notice.
Limitations and things to confirm
- A backup transportation plan is required because flights may be canceled or unmatched.
- A pilot may not be secured until shortly before departure.
- Baggage and passenger-weight limits apply.
- Children under two need an FAA-approved safety seat.
- Families need a backup plan.
- The passenger must be medically stable, ambulatory, and able to sit upright and board a small aircraft.
- Total luggage is limited to 40 pounds.
- Trips are generally 100 to 1,000 miles.
- Does need verification impose unpublished financial criteria?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Mission & History — Angel Flight East · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Request a Flight — Angel Flight East · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Who We Help — Angel Flight East · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Free Medical Flights · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Free Medical Flights · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Free Medical Flights · checked Aug 24, 2026