By Parker McKenzie
A local Upwey pilot has flown over 250 flights with a charity group dedicated to delivering people to the medical treatment they wouldn’t otherwise be able to receive.
Oleg Kuznetsov said he has been conducting trips with Angel Flights for around eight years, during which he has made 262 flightsto help people in remote areas.
“It’s definitely is a good thing and it’s a good feeling when you help other people get treatment and the help they need, especially people who live in distance locations in Victoria and other states,” he said.
“They may be disadvantaged or have problems getting medical treatments which are available in cities and towns. It’s where Angel Flight and pilots like me come to help.”
Angel Flight coordinates non-emergency flights to help country people deal with bad health, poor finances and long distances.
All the flights are free and may involve patients travelling to medical facilities across the country.
Mr Kuznetsov said Angel Flight also offer him the opportunity to keep his license current after he left the commercial pilot industry while also helping the people in need.
“Every flight is memorable and special in some kind of way,” he said.
“I’ve done a few flights carrying a blind person, which I remember because without the service of Angel Flight, a person whose vision is very much compromised may have big trouble getting between states and between rural and more central Victoria.”
Angel Flight accepts and receives mission requests from a pool of over 3200 health professionals with a good knowledge of the patient’s medical condition before making the flight to support them.
Mr Kuznetsov said he will often make multiple flights in a week if there is a demand for it, but normally makes one flight every two weeks.
“I’m just very grateful for the people in Angel Flight to provide such support, not just for people who need medical attention, But also for pilots like myself,” he said.
“I’m not flying commercially anymore at this stage and I think it’s just it’s a great idea how people can help other people to get medical help.”
Angel Flight is funded through private donations from individuals, private businesses, clubs and service clubs, and deceased estates. Donations are used for the cost of fuel for planes, discounted commercial flights when poor weather stops light aircraft from flying and a flight support centre featuring four mission coordinators and two administrative staff.
Around 85 per cent of revenue is spent on coordination and delivery of flights to those in need.
Established in 2003 by Bill Bristow AM, the flights are conducted by volunteer pilots in their own aircraft, who operate Australia-wide.
Anyone seeking more information or looking to donate to Angel Flight can call them on 1300 726 567.
