Medical travel accommodation expands to Fort Nelson

FORT NELSON, B.C. — A new medical travel accommodation service is coming to Fort Nelson.

On July 22, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality announced the expansion of Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program to serve Fort Nelson and its surrounding areas.

The program will offer free flights for eligible residents to travel to large centres for medical appointments, such as Prince George, Edmonton and Calgary. 

“Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program combines aviation and volunteerism to help those who need it the most,” the program’s website said. 

Since 1999, the program said its pilots have transported thousands of Canadians to medical appointments from remote communities. 

The service is available from April to October, depending on the weather. 

Flights are offered by accredited volunteer pilots using their private aircraft. Patients must be suitable for a smaller aircraft. 

In the event a volunteer pilot is unavailable, commercial flights could be arranged. Return transportation home from the hospital may also be arranged. 

Hope Air has previously served patients from Fort St. John, including Sienna, who had to travel over 1,000 kilometres to Kelowna for medical testing. 

In 2022, two Hope Air pilots landed in Fort St. John as part of a fundraising campaign for the service. 

Residents in Fort Nelson and the surrounding areas can apply for Hope Air online.

More information on the program can be found by calling 1-877-346-4673 or emailing [email protected].