Fees Could Ground Charity Medical Flights

COLUMBUS, Ind. -- Pilots across the country who volunteer their time and services to fly life-saving charity flights may be forced to stay grounded if new fees are put in place.

Dan McElroy of Columbus is one of about 1,000 pilots in central Indiana who fly patients in need of medical services as part of a program called Angel Flight, Call 6's Rafael Sanchez reported.

Often, their passengers have weak immune systems and can't fly on commercial flights, or can't afford the airfare.

"Angle Flight uses volunteer pilots, volunteer airplanes and volunteer fuel. There is no expense to the passenger whatsoever," McElroy said.

But he and his fellow pilots across the country may soon have financial troubles of their own if the Federal Aviation Administration moves forward with a series of new fees.

Right now, the pilots pay a federal tax on fuel, but the FAA wants to add a list of user fees to pay for air traffic control. They would include charges for every call to the tower for weather reports and during landing and take off.

"We all accept the federal government and live within a budget, and we have to account for that. As the fees increase, the number of flights will have to decrease," McElroy said. "It hurts, but that's the reality of it.

Angel Flight helps about 3,000 people in central Indiana each year, with volunteer pilots spending a few thousand dollars of their own money on each flight.

The FAA did not return calls for comment on Monday.