Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots carry out acts of generosity each day by donating their time, talent, and resources to help others. Each time a mission is flown, a patient accesses the healthcare resources they need while being uplifted with hope.
Meet the volunteers who make it all possible in this monthly newsletter and, if you’re a pilot in the West, get involved today by visiting angelflightwest.org/pilot-page.
Volunteer Pilot: Bill Banta
Wing: Idaho
AFW Member Since: 2016
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved in general aviation.
I’ve always had a passion for flight and joined the Navy out of college to pursue this dream. I started flying in the early 2000s and feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to use aviation to support Angel Flight West.
How did you hear about Angel Flight West? What made you decide to sign up as a volunteer?
I was introduced to the organization by Rich Conti, a board member at the time. Rich invited me to ride along on a mission, and that day changed everything for me. It’s one thing to hear about AFW, but it’s another to sit in the cockpit and witness the relief and gratitude of a passenger firsthand. Seeing the tangible impact that just one flight could have on a person’s life hooked me immediately. I knew right then that I wanted to be part of that journey.
Please tell us about your missions. Have there been any particularly impactful experiences that you’ve had that you would like to share?
Living here in Idaho, I have a special soft spot for flying campers to and from Camp Rainbow Gold.
One mission that really stays with me happened recently when I flew four children home. Because of a medical emergency, they hadn’t seen their parents in six months. When we landed and I watched that family run toward each other to be reunited, it was incredibly emotional. Being the bridge that brought that family back together was a moment I will never forget.
Why should other pilots look into getting involved with public benefit flying by signing up to volunteer for Angel Flight West?
As pilots, we are always looking for an excuse to get up in the air — usually for a ‘$100 hamburger’ or just to see the view. Angel Flight provides a greater purpose. It transforms a hobby into a calling. There are flights every week that allow us to use our unique skills to lift others up, quite literally. It is easily the most rewarding flying you will ever log.
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Learn more about our mission today at angelflightwest.org/pilot-page
Sign up to change lives through gifted flights at afids.angelflightwest.org
