Lifeline Pilots

Your Church at Work Around the World………

Lifeline Pilots – Peoria, IL

                                                         

Lifeline Pilots is a non-profit organization established in 1981 in an effort to connect private pilots with people who needed transportation to medical centers. The original criteria was emergency, so most of the missions involved organ transplants. It later expanded to any medical or humanitarian need. There is never a charge for the service. The first year there were eight missions. In 2012, there were 429 missions. To date, over 7,400 missions have been flown covering over 4,000,000 miles.

Originally, only an Illinois project, the area covered now is 41 states. Over 1,000 pilots have participated and currently 500 pilots are on the roster to fly missions. Lifeline Pilots has assisted in disaster relief operations, most recently with the Sandy Hurricane on the east coast. In November,30 missions were flown transporting supplies and personnel needed in the recovery process.

The office is located at the Peoria Airport with a staff of three people. A Board of Directors of 16 people meet quarterly to set policy and oversee the operation. An annual budget of $200,000 covers salaries, insurance, travel for outreach, equipment and communication. The cost of aircraft is covered by the pilots. Support comes from foundations, organizations and individuals.

How has Lifeline Pilots made a difference in the lives of people?

...the mother of a two year old was told her child was born with no hamstrings and would never walk. She was directed to Children's Hospital in Chicago for possible treatment. After many months of trips provided by the volunteer pilots, the child is now an active and normal child.

...a 15 year old high school student had failing kidneys and problems with other organs. His doctors had no hope for his recovery and suggested that Mayo Clinic might have an answer. They did. However, he would have to report there three times a week. Lifeline Pilots flew him there 90 times and he is now completely recovered.

...a student at Normal High School was being treated for brain cancer at St. Jude's in Memphis when his class selected him to be homecoming king. His doctors would not approve a road trip in his condition, so Lifeline Pilots flew him back long enough to march in the Homecoming Parade and then immediately back to Memphis.

As we are confronted with continuous news of violence, corruption and greed, it is heartwarming to know of the compassion and generosity of so many people. A man once turned to God and said, " There is so much pain and suffering in the world, why don't you do something about it?" God answered, "I did. I sent you."    Wanda Whitsitt