MiddletownJournal.com

Alan Koch fulfilled a life-long dream when he started flying in 1998.

He doesn't need much of a reason to get one of the five planes of the Victory Aviation Flying Club at the Butler County Regional Airport in the air.

But for several years, he had a pretty good reason to fly. Koch is one 1,500 volunteer pilots for Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic — a nonprofit organization that aids medical patients with free flights.

"If I'm going to go up and fly around and burn gas for an hour, that's one thing, and I enjoy doing that," Koch said. "Most pilots don't need a very big excuse to go flying, but if we can fit flying and do some volunteer work, that's a feel-good thing."

Koch mostly takes last-minute flights because of his demanding schedule at Advantech in Forest Park. On average, pilots usually volunteer about once a month, he said.

"I'm able to do it, I can afford to do it," he said. "There's no other reason."

The gratitude of the parents, children and guardians he transports is just an added benefit.

Angel Flight is a member of the Air Charity Network, a national group comprised of regional nonprofit organizations. In addition to Mid-Atlantic, other services include Airlift Hope, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic, Angel Flight Central, Angel Flight Northeast, Angel Flight Southeast, Angel Flight West and Mercy Flight Southeast.

"They are truly our heroes," said Suzanne Rhodes, Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic director of public affairs.

"These men and women are incredible."

There are a maximum of three legs on any given Angel Flight trip, and each leg is no more than 300 miles. Some pilots will take two of the legs, Rhodes said. A few will take all three.

"Not only do they give their time, their skill, their aircraft, but they really, really care about the patients," Rhodes said.

Contact this reporter

at (513) 755-5112 or mpitman@coxohio.com.