Giving back to the community is what drove pilot Ken Borchardt to fly with Angel Flight.
Living in Dubbo for 35 years, and flying since he was 13 years old, Ken said he knew how to fly before he could drive.
Ken, who is also a wine maker at Red Earth Estate, joined the charity Angel Flight about four years ago and said he joined as a way to give back.
Ken regularly flies out to rural and remote areas to pick up and transfer people to access specialist medical treatment that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of vast distance and high travel costs.
When Fairfax Media spoke to Ken on Wednesday he was preparing his plane for an Angel Flight trip to Nyngan.
He said once they are on the plane he tries to make his passengers as comfortable as possible.
“What they’ve gone through is massive … so I just try and make them as comfortable as I can when they’re on board,” he said.
Passengers are in the hands of Angels all day.
- Ken Borchardt, Angel Flight pilot
Angel Flight have conducted more than 20,000 flights since 2003 helping over 3000 patients Australia wide.
All flights are conducted by volunteer pilots in their own aircraft.
Ken said many people don’t realise Angel Flight is easy to access.
While passengers must meet certain guidelines, to request a flight one must only need a referral from their health professional.
Angel Flight can also assist on multiple occasions for attending follow-up appointments or undertaking a series of treatments for a medical condition.
Angel Flight is funded by private donations from individuals, community service groups and clubs, corporations and deceased estates.
These donations are then used to pay for the fuel used by both the pilots and Earth Angels.
Earth Angels are volunteer drivers who provide car transport between the airports and the medical facilities.
Ken said a big support to him and the other pilots were Earth Angels.
“Earth Angels pick you up and bring you to me,” Ken said.
“Passengers are in the hands of Angels all day.”
There are currently 4500 Earth Angels registered with Angel Flight.
Ken also owns a commercial air charter business, which takes him all over the country.
“I’ll continue flying until I’m not fit for flying anymore,” he said.
It generally takes 5-7 working days for an Angel Flight coordinator to organise a flight.
For further information visit the Angel Flight website www.angelflight.org.au or call Angel Flight on 1300 726 567.