WELCOME
About us
Successful Business people, with extensive aviation backgrounds
1. Lance Weller. Founder, Angel Flight NZ Pilot with IFR Rating.Recently relocated to Australia for family reasons, Lance continues to be part odf the Management Team “for as long as I am needed…”
2. John Pringle. Chairman. Served 20 years in the Rhodesian Air Force before migrating to New Zealand in 1984. Now semi retired, he works part-time providing technical support for a business supplying Assistive Technology to the mediacl industry and a director of Abilities Group, a business providing meaningful employement to people with disabilities.
3. Peter Urquhart. Chief Financial Officer. Peter flew our very first Angel Flight mission way back in 2012! A successful business owbner and Company Director, Peter is now retired and happy to donate his financial management skills.
4. Brent Hempel, Pilot Coordinator and Compliance Officer. Brent has been a prloific volunteer pilot over the years, provuiding both helicopter and fixed-wing flights. He has the unenviable task of keeping our database of pilots, their ratings and aircraft types up-to-date.
5. Steve Lowe. Manager, lower North Island. Steve was one of ourearliest Earth Angel volunteers and comes with an inprewssive background of business management and Management Consulting.
6. Kurt Frauenstein. Manager, South Island. A resident of Christchurch, Kurt is a senior pilot with Virgin Australia and one of our newest volunteers. In between Airline duties, he actively promotes Angel Flight services in the South Island.
Angel Flight is a registered New Zealand charity comprising over 150 private aircraft owners and ground support volunteers.
We offer free flights to Patients/Primary Passengers and caregivers to get to medical facilities. We help those who need to travel long distances for non-urgent medical treatment but don’t qualify for the Air Ambulance service and for whom ground transport would create financial hardship, is unavailable or would be stressful.
We are nationwide, so can help carry Patients/Primary Passengers throughout New Zealand.
With 75 pilots flying out of 20 locations, we can fly you to any specialist facility you need.
All our volunteer Pilots exceed the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority for private flying in New Zealand.
The Angel Flight service is available to anyone who is referred to us by a Healthcare Professional – Social Workers, Nurses, Doctors, Salvation Army, Plunket Nurses and PHOs.
This approach has been successfully adopted in the USA, Canada, and Australia where thousands of people have benefited from this service.
Now Kiwis can do the same.
Our ground volunteers – Earth Angels
Our volunteer drivers called Earth Angels meet every flight and drive people to and from their appointments.
They also take part in fundraising and running information booths at special events, schools and air shows.
How is Angel Flight New Zealand funded?
Angel Flight is funded by private donations as well as the voluntary time of our pilots and Earth Angels.
Who is behind Angel Flight New Zealand?
Angel Flight New Zealand was founded in November 2011 by pilot and retired businessman, Lance Weller.
Lance had flown ten Angel Flight missions in Australia and saw the opportunity to replicate the service in New Zealand.
‘I saw first-hand, how important it was for passengers to have travel time reduced to just a few hours. That got me thinking that New Zealand should have its own Angel Flight service.’
Lance flew his Cirrus SR20G3 aircraft from Brisbane to New Zealand in January 2012.
With the help of two Whangarei Businessmen, Wayne Hill of Hill Construction Ltd and John Shaw of Shaw Motorcycles, Angel Flight New Zealand was established.
‘Our goal is to improve lives, one flight at a time, reducing the stress of transportation and providing care and compassion to passengers.’
‘My hope and vision is that we can offer all New Zealanders who are suffering ill health and often financial distress, the same travel assistance they would receive as if they were in Australia, Canada or the USA.’