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: Jeremy Albright
Wing: Arizona
Aircraft: Piper Cherokee 180, Cessna 172
AFW Member Since: November 2025
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved in general aviation.
I have loved airplanes since I was about 3-years-old and started flying when I was in high school in the 1990s through Civil Air Patrol. I’ll never forget my first flight in a Maule MX-7; I couldn’t see over the windscreen during our taxi and thought there was no way I could fly. Fast forward to now, after flying in the Air Force and pursuing some professional endeavors, I am getting back into general aviation as a CFI where I get to pass on my passion to others.
How did you hear about Angel Flight West? What made you decide to sign up as a volunteer?
I don’t remember exactly where I learned about AFW, but have known that it existed to help provide medical transport for several years. As I have gotten back into aviation, I saw posts on social media and knew I wanted to dive in. At my core, I love helping people and this is such a great opportunity to help serve people in a big way all while sharing my love of flying. It’s an absolute win-win!
Please tell us about your missions. Have there been any particularly impactful experiences that you’ve had that you would like to share?
While I am still new at AFW and getting my feet wet, my time so far has been very impactful. On my last two missions I had the opportunity to fly a friend and her newborn son. They were going through a very difficult season where she lost her job and insurance as a nurse; her husband is working diligently to get his flooring business off the ground all while having a newborn son who needs significant care that they could not afford.
They found care, but their first appointments ended up as a two-day trip that was expensive. Being able to fly them down and back on the same day was a massive relief for them. Nic, her husband didn’t have to take precious time away from work. They didn’t have to book expensive hotels. They were home in time for dinner. Seeing the relief on her face was priceless and made the day totally worth it! Also, she was a bit nervous and skeptical about flying in small planes with AFW. We had great flights and she was able to book trips for the rest of her son’s appointments. WIN!
Why should other pilots look into getting involved with public benefit flying by signing up to volunteer for Angel Flight West?
For me it’s a no-brainer…you get to help people while flying. It’s really that simple. Pilots are always looking for a good reason to fly and you can only eat so many $100 hamburgers. Flying with AFW gives you real purpose in your flying and will make you a better pilot through real-world missions.
If you’re an aspiring professional pilot and you’re building your hours, AFW is a great option for you too. Real-world flights that serve a real purpose will grow you as an aviator and give you the opportunity to gain much needed experience. Oh, and you are helping others in the process.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your time with Angel Flight West?
I really appreciate how well-oiled the AFW machine operates. The onboarding process was simple and very thorough making it really easy to jump in and get started. The app and website make it really easy to find missions that need to be filled and signing up just takes a few clicks. I also really appreciate the care that AFW takes for each patient. You do a phenomenal job!!
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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
