Page 14 - Volume 10 Number 12

Andrew Smith, front right, was an Army Specialist on his first tour in Afghanistan in 2012 when he stepped on an IED, losing both legs and suffering severe abdominal injuries.
He spent 20 months in the hospital recovering from his injuries. In this photo he’s with his family and his service dog on CHI Aviation’s King Air 200C during Veterans Airlift Command flight.
In November, Hise flew three missions on his way to and from VAC’s annual fundraiser, bringing his total to 32. In addition to signing up for missions posted on veteransairlift.org, Hise lets VAC know when he’s on a business trip with room for passengers.
“The volunteer pilots and people that donate their planes and pilots that allow our veterans to travel without the humiliation of enduring TSA inspection at commercial airports are just wonderful and caring people,” said Hise, who’s been flying since 1968 and has 6,000 hours total flight time. “You meet some of the most wonderful people when you’re doing this – from the veterans and their families to the people running VAC. And the FBOs almost always step up, offering a fuel discount, waving ramp fees and bending over backward to help.” KA
To find more information about the non-profits and transport groups mentioned in this article:
AEROBridge: aerobridge.org
Air Care Alliance: aircarealliance.org
Angel Flight West: angelflightwest.org Doobert: doobert.com
Emergency Volunteer Air Corps: evac.org Flying Dog Rescue: flyingdogrescue.com Flying Fur Rescue: flyingfuranimalrescue.org Honor Flight Network: honorflight.org LightHawk: lighthawk.org
Pilot.dog: pilot.dog
Pilots N Paws: pilotsnpaws.org
Pilots to the Rescue: pilotstotherescue.org Veterans Airlift Command: veteransairlift.org
12 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2016