Our History
We’re not making history; we’re living it — one flight at a time
Celebrating 30 years of service, Angel Flight NE (AFNE) is more than just a transportation service; it is a lifeline for courageous patients and families with an incredible will to live. Since our first flight in 1996, we have transformed “distance” from a barrier into a bridge, ensuring that specialized medical care is accessible to all, free of charge.
Our Humble Beginnings
The story of Angel Flight NE began with the vision of Fr. Larry Camerlin, a priest and avid pilot who dedicated his career to healthcare and hospice ministry. Driven by a mission to provide an inclusive and compassionate presence to those in need, Fr. Larry sought a way to combine his love for aviation with his commitment to service.
In March 1996, with the help of pro bono legal counsel from Nicholas Hodge at K&L Gates LLP, AFNE was officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. We launched operations on May 31, 1996, out of a donated office at the Beverly Flight Center with just 10 volunteer pilots and two flight requests.
An Expanding Network of Hope
From those first two flights, we have grown into a powerhouse of humanitarian aviation. Now headquartered at the Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, MA, our impact has reached staggering heights:
- 115,000+ flight requests answered
- 17 million+ miles flown
- 80 to 100 flights scheduled weekly during peak periods
This mission is powered by a dedicated community of 300+ volunteer pilots, commercial partners like JetBlue and Cape Air, and hundreds of “Earth Angels”—our vital ground crew who transport patients between airports and hospitals
Rising to the Occasion in Times of Crisis
Our infrastructure allows us to be among the first responders during national and global tragedies.
- 9/11 & National Tragedies: We were the first in the air following the September 11 attacks and the 2001 Newton Oak Hill bus crash, mobilizing immediately to support victims and families.
- Global Relief: Our pilots flew medical staff and supplies into Haiti following the 2010 earthquake and provided PPE and test kits to high-need areas and indigenous tribes during the COVID-19 pandemic,
- Disaster Response: In 2024, our team jumped into action following Hurricane Helene, flying food and medicine into small municipal airports that were inaccessible to larger aircraft.
A Legacy of Compassion
Beyond medical treatment, AFNE is a vital transporter of life-saving organs and blood, and a provider of “compassion flights” that reunite families with critically ill loved ones. Our work has been recognized with honors such as induction into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame (Air Charity Network, 2018) and the NE Patriots Foundation Difference Maker awards (with volunteer pilot Richard Jacobs).
For three decades, we have never turned away a request. With the continued support of our community, we will keep making and keeping promises—one flight at a time.
Patient, Pilot & Donor Testimonials
