Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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LifeLine Pilots

Free Medical Flights · About this organization

What you get

Help with up to two approved companions for a child passenger and volunteer-pilot flight to non-emergency medical care.

How to start

Send in the flight request at least four business days before a first trip. Have your doctor's letter ready.

Good to know

  • Passenger must be able to use a small nonpressurized aircraft safely.
  • Flights depend on volunteers, weather, aircraft, and safety.

The details, as published

B-ALL is in scope Open

LifeLine Pilots coordinates free non-emergency flights for people of any age who need medical care far from home and face a financial, medical, health-related, or other compelling barrier to commercial or public transportation. Flights are usually 100–1,000 miles across a ten-state Midwest region, require physician release for safe small-aircraft travel, and are never guaranteed because volunteers, weather, aircraft, and safety control fulfillment. First-time passengers use the live portal and should apply at least five business days ahead when possible; repeat passengers call.

Go to the official program ↗

What help you may get

Travel And Transportation

Free Medical Flights — travel and transportation

LifeLine Pilots coordinates free non-emergency flights for people of any age who need medical care far from home and face a financial, medical, health-related, or other compelling barrier to commercial or public transportation. Flights are usually 100–1,000 miles across a ten-state Midwest region, require physician release for safe small-aircraft travel, and are never guaranteed because volunteers, weather, aircraft, and safety control fulfillment. First-time passengers use the live portal and should apply at least five business days ahead when possible; repeat passengers call.

Noncash help · As Needed

Can cover

  • Up to two approved companions for a child passenger
  • Volunteer-pilot flight to non-emergency medical care

Does not cover

  • Ground transportation
  • Lodging
  • Flights are always free to passengers.
  • The program publishes no limit on the number of flights.

Check the main eligibility rules

Diagnosis

B-ALL is in scope. The diagnosis rule is a non-emergency medical need rather than a named disease, so travel for pediatric B-ALL care can qualify if all flight-safety and need rules are met.

Age

Age 0 to no published upper limit, measured at service date.

  • No maximum age is published; the page has specific rules allowing child passengers two companions.

Treatment status

Active Treatment

  • A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
  • LifeLine Pilots obtains a physician release using the doctor name and fax supplied in the request.

Financial need is required.

  • No numeric income limit is published in the reviewed official material.

Where you live and where your child is treated

Where your family lives

You must live in: IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, MO, OH, TN, WI.

  • The flight must fall within the published 10-state service area or be coordinated under the program’s route rules.

Where your child is treated

No treatment-location restriction is published.

How to get started

Get ready to apply

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: Caregiver, Healthcare Team, Parent Or Guardian, Patient

  1. Maintain a backup plan and coordinate ground transportation and lodging.
  2. Provide doctor details so the program can obtain a physician release.
  3. Receive approval for companions and any equipment.
  4. Submit the flight request at least four business days before a first trip.

Ways to apply or ask

Documents to prepare

  • Appointment and passenger information
  • Liability release
  • Physician release
  • LifeLine Pilots coordinates a volunteer pilot; no fare is charged.

Availability and timing

ProgramActive
ApplicationsOpen
Funding or spaceFund Dependent
Application windowRolling
Last checkedAug 24, 2026
  • A current official page presented the program and an intake route on the research date.
  • Applications or requests are accepted on an ongoing basis, subject to program capacity.
  • At least four business days are required for first-time passengers; more notice improves the chance of fulfillment.

Limitations and things to confirm

  • Flights are not emergency transport or air ambulance service.
  • Passenger must be able to use a small nonpressurized aircraft safely.
  • Weather and volunteer availability can cancel a mission, so a backup plan is mandatory.
  • Can the exact route, travelers, equipment, oxygen, mobility, animal, timing, and pilot availability be accommodated?
  • What need-screening, response, partner-exception, and Spanish-intake practices apply?

Official sources

Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.

Official program