About the New Mexico Wing

Angel Flight West Takes Off in New Mexico

To get to Tucson for a bone marrow transplant evaluation, an Albuquerque woman would have had to draw upon already strained finances, or endure a long, uncomfortable ride in an undependable car.

Angel Flight West pilots flew her and her daughter there in 2 ½ hours – free of charge.

The mission of Angel Flight West is to arrange free, non-emergency transportation in private aircraft in response to health care and other compelling human needs. The pilots are volunteers who donate their time and all flying costs.

Angel Flight West began in California in 1983 and confined its activities to that state and bordering states until a few years ago. The organization now has Wings in 11 states, including New Mexico.

Typical flights take patients to scheduled medical appointments, or ill children to special camps geared toward their medical problems. Approximately half of the patients are receiving treatment for cancer. Others might be going to large medical centers for diagnostic services, or are getting rehabilitation services for an injury or birth defect.

Flights are not limited to carrying patients undergoing medical treatment, or even human passengers. Relatives who need to be at a patient's side, auto accident survivors who need transportation home, health care professionals who need to travel to remote clinics, blood, organs, and even guide dogs, can be accommodated.

Angel Flight West is not an air ambulance service. All passengers must be medically stable and ambulatory. Requests for a flight should be made as far in advance as possible (preferably, at least five working days). Initial requests must come by referral through an organization that can verify the passenger's condition and need. Criteria for accepting requests include financial hardship and/or unavailability of adequate transportation.

The latter is especially common in many areas of New Mexico, where transportation can be a large barrier. Angel Flight West helps to bridge that barrier. Currently, the New Mexico Wing is flying several missions per week to all parts of New Mexico and the nearby states.

For more information about Angel Flight West services or about becoming a member, contact the New Mexico Wing Leader. Or, you can contact the Angel Flight West Main Office at (888) 4-AN-ANGEL (426-2643), www.angelflight.org.