Angel Flight East Kootenay

A fully volunteer run charity providing FREE air transportation to residents of the East Kootenay to medical appointments in Kelowna.

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 treatment centres 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.

Through CanadaHelps.org

WHERE and Who WE FLY

Each flight is planned based on the individual requirements, appointment times and time urgency to get to and from the treatment facility. We do drop offs, same day returns and pick ups.

We fly in light aircraft from the Cranbrook International Airport and Sparwood Elk Valley Airport.
Moving forward we hope to have flights operated from other airports in the Kootenays – more volunteer pilots will be recruited as demand for flights increases.

Our aircraft are small and un-presurized, this does create some limitations:
~You must be able to walk to and board a small light aircraft~
~Due to limited space we cannot take wheelchairs or walking frames~
~No medical assistance is available during flight~
~We cannot take people with a communicable illness~
~Total combined weight of all passengers can not exceed 400 pounds~
There are no washroom facilities on the aircraft

Panel 1

Request A Flight

1: Fill out and submit the FLIGHT REQUEST FORM. We will use this to confirm your eligibility for the flight. It can take up to 48hrs for us to get back to you.

2: Download, print, and fill out 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 have them to board the aircraft.

~If possible, please have your appointment times between 9:30am and 12:30pm Kelowna time. This ensure our pilots can get you to, and from your appointment during the short winter days.~

Panel 2

Recent Flights

New father in need

Posted on September 9, 2019 by admin Missions

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 […]

Return from an emergency

Posted on August 10, 2019August 15, 2019 by admin Missions

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 […]

A 30 minute appointment

Posted on August 2, 2019August 15, 2019 by admin Missions

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 […]

Panel 3

Who We Are

Our Pilots

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.

Todd Weselake – Director, partner and pilot
Having lived in Fernie for the last 2 decades I understands the importance of the flights myself and Brent can offer to East Kootenay residents. As an avid, experienced mountain flyer and pursuing a career in aviation I take aviation safety extremely serious and looks forward to being a part of the growth and success of An gel Flight East Kootenay

GROUND CREW

Janet Bidston

Sharon-Leigh W. Quail

Rick Jarrett

Val Lanthier

Janet Bidston

Janet is the behind the scenes magic for Angel Flight East Kootenay. When you book a flight, Janet will be the friendly voice on the phone.

Sharon-Leigh W. Quail

A Sales Professional supported by achievements in marketing and procurement, including sourcing, negotiating, product development and vendor relationships. Professional Experience 25 years with Loblaw Companies and of recent Coca-Cola Canada.

Within the last year and a half, my parents passed away. I left my career to look after my Dad who was declared palliative until his passing. I attended a Rotary function which Brent & Todd from Angel Flight East Kootenays were the guest speakers. As my parents were both highly involved with the community and volunteering, I felt this passion being passed along to myself. With my parents, I had a first hand look on the challenges that people face, I just knew then I needed to help out with this worthy charity.

So here I am supporting them with fundraising and marketing synergies. Don’t be surprised if you here from me!!!

Rick Jarrett

Rick is a retired Mining Engineer who has lived and worked in Invermere, British Columbia for the last 40 years. An avid fisherman, hunter, amateur radio operator (VE7CQC) and Private Pilot, Rick has enjoyed the natural beauty of where he and his wife Lynda live. Active in community clubs and organizations such as the Royal Canadian Legion past president, Kinsmen Club, and the Rod & Gun Club.

Val Lanthier

I moved to Fernie in 2016 and started a local business, Pet Tech Care.
Supporting my community is important and I enjoy volunteering my spare time with three different organizations. Its only fitting for me to establish myself as the secretary for AFEK.