A Lifesaving Organization Dependant On Others

By Chris Batcheller

Wings of Hope, based out of St. Louis, MO, is a unique organization providing medical air transportation for those who needed the help the most.  With over 500 volunteers worldwide in 42 countries, 153 bases, and only 2 paid employees, they provide free emergency and non-emergency medical transport to people who can’t afford their own transportation or have a special need to fly.

In the St. Louis area, Wings of Hope operates a Cessna 206, a Piper Seneca III and a Piper Lance. Many people served domestically are children who have been transported to Shriners' hospitals. They have one patient who is transported every other week from Tulsa to Milwaukee for specialized cancer treatment. George Knirsch pointed out that they don’t just fly a patient once, they fly them as long as the need is there.

Internationally they operate in 41 other countries. They provide medical missions to remote locations and provide a life saving service. Not only do they provide for the medical mission, Wings of Hope also helps the people they serve by showing them how to have a better way of life. Just one example is how they helped some villagers build brooms and sell them in a nearby village. “Bringing up the level of the economy is important” says George Knirsch, a pilot for the organization. They don’t just fly medical patients either. Particularly in the international missions they will carry whatever is needed, including live chickens and pipes to make a well!

Wings of Hope owns all the airplanes that they operate. They place a special emphasis on safety, and always fly with two pilots.  When a patient gets into their aircraft, Wings of Hope knows that it’s a solid plane with solid pilots.

Donations keep this organization going. The volunteers working at the booth noted that they have seen the donations slow down because of the economy. They accept almost anything as a donation – recently they accepted a large RV. The ideal airplane, according to George Knirsch is one that the owner has lost their medical. With the help of volunteer A&P Mechanics, they take wrecked or damaged airplanes and bring them back to airworthy condition, supporting the international or domestic mission. Sometimes they get an airplane that won’t be practical for their mission, and those airplanes are sold to raise valuable funds to keep the operations going. Recently Wings of Hope sold a Blue Marines T-28 that can be seen here at Oshkosh 2009.

“It doesn’t take much to outfit the plane for the mission” says George Knirsch. The airplanes are configured for each mission often having stretchers installed on the seat tracks. The medical equipment is mounted from a bar that is installed just behind the pilot and co-pilots heads. Often airplanes are reconfigured so that family members can accompany the patient.

If you don’t have an airplane to donate, Wings of Hope is looking to all walks of life for volunteers. You don’t have to be a pilot, or A&P mechanic. They need IT folks, medical people, marketing people, finance specialists, and any other profession that is needed to run a large organization. George Knirsch noted that he’s been in aviation for 40 years and he enjoys giving back. “We sell our hearts to people that need it” said George.

90 percent of all donations go directly to supporting their mission. They have and impressive list of people supporting their organization including actor Harrison Ford, General Colin Powell, and Brig. General Chuck Yeager. They are not government or church sponsored, but they often work with many organizations.

FMI: www.wings-of-hope.org