We’re raising funds for a new aircraft that will strengthen our service and help us meet the growing needs of our region.
Fernie – Cranbrook – Creston – Golden – Invermere – Nelson – Sparwood
Angel Flight East Kootenay was founded in April 2019 by Brent Bidston (Ret. Airline Captain), and is an entirely volunteer-led charitable organization with no paid employees. Our mission is to fly residents of the East Kootenays to medical appointments in Kelowna, for free!
As a registered charity we are currently accepting donations to be able to continue offering free flights. Every donation goes a long way, and you can choose to have a tax receipt for your donation if you would like.
Our flight days are Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday. Flights leave Cranbrook at 9.30am MT, ensuring patients are in Kelowna for 11am PT appointments. For same day travel back to Cranbrook, patients are expected to return to the airport by 2 pm PT. One way travel and split travel days are also accommodated.
We fly our pressurized twin Cessna 414A out of the Bid Air Terminal at the Cranbrook International Airport. This is the red hanger on your right hand side, as you approach the main terminal. Parking is available in front of the hanger. In Kelowna, we land at the Shell Aerocentre, 6197 Airport Way. Taxis can be arranged prior to arrival.
WE DO HAVE SOME BASIC LIMITIATIONS:
– Passengers must be able to walk to, and board a small light aircraft. Our plane has three steps to get inside, with a rope handrail. Passengers must be able to sit for the duration of the flight.
– Due to limited space, we cannot take wheelchairs or walking frames on the plane.
– No medical assistance is available during flight.
– We cannot take people with a communicable illness.
– There are no washroom facilities on the aircraft.
Our flight days are Tuesday – Wednesday – Thursday. Appointments starting before 11 am PT (Kelowna time) or after 1pm PT are not able to be serviced for a same day travel to and from Kelowna, and will require an overnight stay.
Flights are booked on a first come, first serve basis, so it is important to request your flight as soon as you have an appointment date! There are five seats available per flight.
Requesting a flight is simple, and can be completed in the following two steps:
1. Fill out the FLIGHT REQUEST FORM. We will use this to confirm your eligibility for the flight.
2. Download, print, and fill out both pages of the WAIVER, and in the case of a minor, the INDEMNITY form. These MUST be completed and signed by your doctor prior to your flight. Consider them your airplane ticket. You MUST get them back to us by email, or text photos of each full page to 250-430-1188. Escorts must also fill out a waiver, however they do not need a medical signature.
Angel Flight provides vital service for East Kootenay patients For Marybeth and Judd Thompson, the arrival of twin daughters Marlow and Nellie brought both excitement and uncertainty. Born prematurely, the girls required specialized medical care and regular appointments in Kelowna. Like many East Kootenay families facing complex medical needs, the Thompsons quickly realized the challenge […]
What began as a simple act of giving, has grown into a remarkable legacy of generosity. Over the past few years, Sparwood resident Debbie Russo has been collecting refundable bottles and cans from across the Elk Valley and donating every dollar to Angel Flight. Recently, while reviewing historical donations, Angel Flight discovered that her contributions […]
Angel Flight East Kootenay is embarking on a campaign to raise funds for a new $3 million aircraft that will help streamline operating costs for its flight services between the East Kootenay and Kelowna. Co-founder Brent Bidston provided an update to the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board during a meeting on Sept. 12, noting that the organization […]
Brent Bidston – President and lead pilot
We immigrated from the UK to Canada in 2005 and have been living in Fernie ever since. I was an Airline Captain for my 30 year career. When we immigrated I was working for Korean Air as a Captain on their A330 fleet but took early retirement in 2009 to live full time in the Elk Valley.
My Wife and I joined BC Ambulance and served 10 years at the Fernie station. During that time I started the Elk Valley Air Search and Rescue Association, a unit of CASARA, and have been operating in the Rocky Mountains since 2012.
I now look forward to getting Angel Flight East Kootenay up and running while also running and Air Search and Rescue.
Rob McInnis – Director and pilot
Rob is a retired airline pilot who continues to enjoy aviation in retirement whether teaching his wife Deb to fly in their own aircraft, flying corporate charters, flight instructing, soaring, or pretty much anything that gets him into the air.
Rob is especially enthusiastic about Angel Flights as it is a way to help those in need while doing something he loves.
During the summer months, Cristalle can be found flying tanker planes to fight wildfires! During the winter months, we are lucky to have her as one of our volunteer pilots.
A longtime pilot in the commercial aviation industry, Neil has recently joined our Angel Flight team. We are so pleased to have him!
Colin has been flying for over 25 years and is currently flying with West Jet Airlines. He recently joined our Angel Flight team, and we are happy to have him!
Angel Pilot Ben has been a professional pilot for almost 30 years, and has flown charter, medivac, cargo, and Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777 and Airbus 330/340 aircraft all around the world for different airlines. If you can’t find Ben in the sky, you’ll find him teaching the next generation of ski instructors in the Rocky Mountains or rolling around a bowl on his skateboard.
Janet is the behind the scenes magic for Angel Flight East Kootenay!
As Angel Flight has grown, so has the need for additional ground crew! As a long time user of Angel Flight, Skye brings a first-hand appreciation of the initiative, and assists with the booking of flights.
As a registered charity we are currently accepting donations to be able to continue offering free flights. Every donation goes a long way, and you can choose to have a tax receipt for your donation if you would like.
Through CanadaHelps.org
Thank you to all the local businesses that have help us along the way!
