The Heart of Aviation: Volunteer Pilots Making a Difference

In this inspiring episode of The Open Skies Podcast, host Chris Glass sits down with Kristina De Marzio, Hope Air’s Manager of Community Engagement, to explore the crucial role of volunteer pilots in providing life-saving travel for patients in need. Kristina shares how Hope Air works with hospitals, social workers, and medical professionals to identify patients facing insurmountable travel barriers and connects them with free flights through generous commercial airline partners and volunteer pilots.

With only 41 active volunteer pilots across Canada, Hope Air is actively seeking more aviators to expand their reach in underserved areas like Northern Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Kristina highlights heartwarming patient stories—children seeing their homes from the sky for the first time, families avoiding exhausting multi-day drives, and patients making it home in time for the holidays. This episode is a call to action for pilots and supporters alike, showing how aviation can be a force for good in ensuring healthcare access for all.