Angel Flight EK and BidAir mark five year partnership

Angel Flight East Kootenay and BidAir are celebrating five years of partnership this year.

To mark the occasion, Angel Flight president Brent Bidston presented BidAir owner Brian Fehr with a plaque at the Canadian Rockies International Airport. The plaque served as a heartfelt thank-you for years of dedicated service.

BidAir houses Angel Flight’s Cessna 414 at the airport, which provides free transportation for East Kootenay residents to access medical appointments in Kelowna. The charity flies locals three times per week.

“Brian Fehr and the BidAir team are indispensable to us here at Angel Flight East Kootenay,” said Bidston. “They not only create a haven where our aircraft is well cared for but also where our patients find a warm reception and comfort before their journeys. Their partnership is crucial to our mission of delivering critical medical transportation with compassion and reliability. We truly could not do it without their support.”

As originally posted in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman, https://www.cranbrooktownsman.com/home/angel-flight-ek-and-bidair-mark-five-years-of-partnership-7441447

July 15, 2024

Angel Flight EK founder receives King Charles Medal

Angel Flight East Kootenay founder and pilot Brent Bidston has received the King Charles III Coronation Medal, recognizing his exceptional dedication to our community.

“This accolade honours Brent’s tireless efforts and the remarkable impact of our fully volunteer-run charity, reflecting the spirit of compassion and service that defines Angel Flight East Kootenay.

“Thank you for celebrating this achievement with us and for your continued support. We are deeply grateful for this recognition and extend our heartfelt thanks to Kootenay – Columbia MP Rob Morrison for the nomination,” Angel Flight East Kootenay noted on social media.

Lead image: From left, MP Rob Morrison with Brent and Janet Bidston. Angel Flight East Kootenay photo

As originally posted in e-know.ca, https://www.e-know.ca/regions/east-kootenay/angel-flight-ek-founder-receives-king-charles-medal/

September 13, 2024

Angel Flight reflects on a busy 2024

This year has been an extraordinary one for Angel Flight East Kootenay, a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated to providing free air transportation for residents of the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. Its mission is to ensure that individuals can access critical medical treatments and specialists in Kelowna, which are otherwise unavailable in our region.

Since inception in 2019, the demand for Angel Flight’s services has grown exponentially. This year, the organization reached a new milestone, transporting an impressive 1001 passengers. To put this in perspective, Angel Flight flew 570 people in 2022 and 654 in 2023.

To meet the rising need, Angel Flight has had to make significant adjustments to its schedule this year. Each rotation, Cranbrook-Kelowna-Cranbrook, costs approximately $1500. Normally, it operates one rotation three days a week with a Cessna 414A aircraft, which can carry five passengers each way. However, to accommodate the increased demand, Angel Flight had two options: add another day per week or conduct double rotations on the existing schedule. In 2023, Angel Flight performed four same-day double rotations; in 2024, it has already completed fourteen.

Several factors contribute to this surge in demand. Growing awareness of Angel Flight’s services has played a significant role. Additionally, Alberta’s healthcare system is accepting fewer patients from British Columbia and now excludes children. Consequently, Angel Flight has transported five neonate babies this year. While most children are referred to Vancouver Children’s Hospital, an increasing number require travel to Kelowna.

As Angel Flight reflects on this year, it is sincerely grateful for the continued support from the communities across the region. During this holiday season, Angel Flight extends a heartfelt thanks and warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season and a happy, healthy New Year.

As originally posted in the Cranbrook Daily Townsman, https://www.cranbrooktownsman.com/news/angel-flight-reflects-on-a-busy-2024-7706287
December 16, 2024

New father in need

Thank you ‘Angel Flight East Kootenay’ What amazing work you are doing for people in our community!I

Got big help from you, and I wanted share my story of how I got that help and how others can get help when needed in an emergency case. On 17th August 2019 my wife delivered a baby boy at Cranbrook hospital. Due to breathing issues, the baby had to be taken to Kelowna hospital by air ambulance. Because of the very small space in air ambulance, my wife and I couldn’t go at the same time. We were informed that they only can take the mother in air ambulance so Ihad to find my own way to Kelowna. One of the nurses from the hospital gave me the phone number and information about Angel Flight Kootenay.As soon as I got the number I called them. By the way, the day was Saturday, around 9 pm, so I thought to leave a voice mail in case the office was closed, but within a ring I was able to connect with Brent and Janet. I explained the situation that I was looking for help to fly to Kelowna as soon as possible. Within 20 min Janet confirmed that they can fly me to Kelowna, and also arrange a taxi to Kelowna hospital from airport.Next morning I met Brent and Tod at Cranbrook airport. Brent and Tod are very friendlyand we had a good flight with some beautiful scenery below. Within about an hour we reached the YLW airport, and a taxi was ready to pick me up. In fact, I reached Kelowna hospital earlier than my wife. I was so happy that I could see my boy sooner than expected. That was a big help and relief!I have no words to thank you Angel Flight Kootenay– Brent, Janet, and Tod,
Dilip and family

Return from an emergency

Brent, Todd, Jan, I can not thank all of you enough for the support and the services you guys had provided to myself and my daughter during a stressful time to get us back to the east Kootenays!

I can not find the right words, to explain what the Angel Flight does, but all I can do is tell my story to hopefully help, and show others that they are not alone when the last thing they want to think about in an emergency situation is how to get back home with their loved ones! The dedication you all show to make this a successful alternative for others.

This is a service that the valley has needed for sometime, and finally it has been accomplished!
You guys put your heart and soul in to this special flight services and donate your time at your own cost while putting your lives on hold to ensure others are taken care of!
As I thought this service was only offered to others who do not have vehicles or ways to the hospital, it’s not, it is there for others to get home so their family members don’t have to drive the tiring distance or the long hours.

On August 5 2019,

I was faced with a life threatening emergency with my daughter.

( 2 years ago, my daughter almost died on me 2x in May 2017, due to complications of having tonsils and adenoids removed, resulting in bleeding almost to death as one of her main blood vessels wouldn’t stop bleeding, and having blood transfusions)

My 8 year old daughter was rushed to the sparwood emergency, due to uncontrollable bleeding that what we thought was a nose bleed…
We were then transported to cranbrook, and then flown by BC Air to Kelowna early hours in the morning, as Alberta was not an option for us.

Kelowna and sparwood suggested it would be best not to have every family member travel down because of the unknown results at the time, and to wait incase things change and we would have to be transferred to Vancouver.
As things at the hospital in Kelowna were starting to get underway for the medical care, I started to stress about how to get back to the valley, and started pricing out flights, a rental vehicle, and seeing who could take the time off of work back home to do the 16 hour drive ( 8 hours to and 8 hours from Kelowna).
The hospital asked me about the angel flight service, and that’s when I stood corrected and thought it was only provided for those in need…

You all have opened your hearts in to this angel flight service, and I hope that this will continue to help others as it did for myself.

Anyone who thinks that they are alone at a hospital with no way home, please talk to any staff members at the hospital to help get you home as if there is a will there is a way! There may be no charge for this service, but a donation will sure help keep this going.

Thank you all so much!
Xoxo

A 30 minute appointment

Without Angel Flight East Kootenay I would have had to use commercial flights and due to there timing I would have been two nights in a hotel, plus meals.

I can’t drive any distance anymore and even if I could find someone to drive me it would have taken two days each way as I can’t spend too long sat in a car. This would have been even more nights in Hotels for me and my driver.

The flight was just over an hour with great scenic views of the mountains.

Turned out my appointment was very important and they wanted me in hospital immediately but could not get a bed until Tuesday which was five days away. Only choice was five nights in a hotel at my expense or return on Tuesday. I immediately rang Angel Flight again and was very lucky that they could bring me back on Tuesday.

Thank you so much Angel Flight

Warren