San Diego Pilot's Volunteer Flights Bring Burn Survivors to Champ Camp
Andy Coy, a volunteer aviator with Angel Flight West, has flown dozens of missions including transporting burn survivor campers to California's Champ Camp at no cost to passengers.
The gist
Volunteer pilot Andy Coy has completed 38 Angel Flight West flights, including 18 carrying burn survivors to specialized camps like Champ Camp.
Andy Coy, a San Diego-based private pilot, recently completed his 38th volunteer flight with Angel Flight West, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for patients and families in need. Among these missions, Coy has flown 18 trips for burn survivor Susy, a 16-year-old camper attending the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s Champ Camp. His most recent flight brought Susy home from the weeklong residential program held in Sanger, California.
Coy’s deep roots in aviation trace back to his family, with a father who was both a general aviation pilot and radiologist and an uncle who served in the Air Force before flying for Delta Air Lines. Despite this, Coy did not earn his pilot certificate until 2020 after his son left for college. Since then, he has amassed over 1,100 flight hours, dedicating a significant portion of that time to Angel Flight West’s charitable missions.
Angel Flight West operates by coordinating volunteer pilots and commercial airline partners to provide free air transportation for medical purposes and specialized programs. Coy’s flights have included transferring patients and families, hauling blood supplies, and flying participants and counselors to camps and clinics primarily across the western United States. These services remove geographic barriers, allowing participants like Susy to attend critical programs.
Camp flights hold particular importance for Coy, who expresses a personal connection to the campers’ experiences. He highlights the supportive environment between campers and counselors at these programs, noting how shared activities foster camaraderie and joy among participants who have faced traumatic events.
Susy has been a regular attendee of Champ Camp since 2019. The camp serves burn survivors aged 5 to 17 who have been treated at California hospitals or currently reside in the state. Offering activities such as fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, archery, crafts, water slides, campfires, and team-building exercises, the camp runs medical staff and volunteers, including adult burn survivors and firefighters.
Susy’s mother, Vivana, emphasizes the trips' impact beyond transportation. She credits Angel Flight West with boosting Susy’s confidence, independence, and sense of possibility by enabling experiences that empower burn survivors. Such flights extend the support network for these children significantly beyond hospital care, affecting their mental and emotional well-being.
Erika Mendoza, Camps and Recreation Manager for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, stresses the importance of holistic care after burn injuries, highlighting the partnership with Angel Flight West as key to frequent camper reunions. The alliance allows children to maintain connections with their support systems, vital for recovery and resilience.
Having provided these flights for over three decades, Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots reduce the travel burden that can otherwise prevent attendance at vital programs. Some campers travel hundreds or thousands of miles, and the organization’s fleet of volunteer aircraft bridges that gap efficiently.
Coy’s commitment to volunteer flying illustrates how general aviation can extend far beyond personal and commercial uses, serving communities by enabling access to specialized care and rehabilitation through programs like Champ Camp. His service exemplifies the meaningful impact of GA pilots choosing to fly for others.
As volunteer pilots like Coy continue to support Angel Flight West, countless patients and families gain access to essential health resources and experiences that improve quality of life. Such efforts underscore an enduring mission within general aviation to contribute positively through volunteerism and community service.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Andy Coy and what is his role with Angel Flight West?
- Andy Coy is a San Diego pilot who began flying in 2020 and has completed 38 volunteer flights for Angel Flight West, transporting patients, supplies, and campers at no cost.
- What is Champ Camp and who attends it?
- Champ Camp is a weeklong residential camp in California for burn survivors aged 5 to 17, providing recreational and therapeutic activities under medical supervision.
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