Angel Flight Southeast Connects Private Pilots With Homeland Security Efforts.

Business Editors

LEESBURG, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2004

Private pilots on the East Coast, who would like to utilize their airplanes to assist in defense of the U.S. homeland, now have the opportunity to do so through the Angel Flight(TM) Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System (HSEATS). The system provides the disaster relief community with a pre-planned, reliable, coordinated system to transport key personnel and small, priority cargo items to the site of a disaster.

Designed to have pilots and planes ready for take-off at the nearest airstrip within two hours, HSEATS will provide 24/7 support for such organizations as state health departments, state police, federal disaster relief agencies and private organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

"After the September 11 events, it became evident that an efficient, emergency, grass-roots based, volunteer pilot air transportation system was necessary," said Deborah Deal, President of Angel Flight Southeast. "That's why connecting Angel Flight and its thousands of private volunteer pilots and planes with Homeland Security efforts makes sense."

Angel Flight Southeast, which flies patients needing access to specialized evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment that is not provided or adequate near a patient's home, handles all Angel Flight America calls for assistance in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi.

"For 9-11, emergency blood shipments were needed, key disaster relief agency officials needed transportation, and rescue dogs in New York needed protective gear," continued Deal. "Angel Flight pilots from various regions across the country flew more than 150 volunteer missions in response to the crisis when all other planes were grounded. However, Angel Flight was unable to use anywhere near its full capabilities in support of disaster relief because it lacked appropriate coordination and communication vehicles with local and national disaster relief agencies. Those problems will be remedied through HSEATS."

More trained and certified pilots are always welcome to join the program. To become a registered HSEATS pilot, applicants should visit the Angel Flight Southeast Web site at www.angelflightse.org.

Angel Flight Southeast's volunteer pilots have been providing free transportation for financially distressed persons with medical or humanitarian needs for over 20 years. The nonprofit, 501 c(3) organization is a member of Angel Flight(TM) America , which provides 90% of private-plane public benefit flights offered in the U.S.