Passenger FAQs

First we connect. You will work with a direct-support organization, your case worker, or your healthcare provider to evaluate the need and suitability for traveling with the assistance of a volunteer pilot. If the organization is not familiar with Elevated Access, ask them to contact us about establishing a relationship.

Once we receive the flight request from the people already helping you, we will work to identify a pilot with an aircraft that is able to do your flight. Once we have a pilot identified, we will introduce you and the pilot to arrange the final details for the flight.

All aircraft have to manage overall weight and balance to fly safely. Small airplanes like the ones our volunteer pilots use need to know how much each passenger weighs and the weight of any baggage. For this reason, you need to be honest with your pilot and also only take the items you actually need for the journey. To balance the airplane, the pilot may ask you to sit in a specific seat rather than just offer you a seat of your preference.

Once you board the plane, you will not be able to get up and move around, much like traveling in a car. Your pilot will provide you with a headset that enables you to talk to them and any other passengers as well as reduce the noise. Since any restroom needs would require landing the plane, you should limit your intake of liquids prior to the flight. Do not hesitate to tell your pilot if you have a rising biological need during the flight.

The FAA asks that we inform passengers that the safety requirements for volunteer pilots are not the same as an airline or a charter operation. All flying involves risk, and our pilots may cancel any flight that they feel cannot safely be completed. They may also adjust scheduling and routing if there are alternatives to cancellation.

Pilots and passengers are asked to not take photos of each other or the aircraft. Pilots are not told the purpose of a given passenger’s flight which could be accessing healthcare, assisting a staff member or volunteer from another non-profit, or transporting healthcare providers between locations. Pilots are also instructed not to ask about the purpose of the passenger’s flight.

We are working with licensed clinical social workers on additional mandatory training for all pilots in order to create a baseline across the volunteer roster. This training prepares pilots to know when someone wants to talk, when someone needs a distraction, or wants to be left in silence. We also prepare pilots on how to best provide emotional support in the cockpit environment. And while all our pilots are vetted to be in support of our mission, we also give pilots appropriate language and terminology in case their passenger wants to talk about their healthcare or life situation.