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Volunteer Pilot Program

How to give hope wings

Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program (VPP) combines aviation and volunteerism to help those who need it the most. Since 1999, our pilots have transported thousands of Canadians from more remote communities to vital medical appointments that are difficult and costly to access.

Combining their passion for aviation with a desire to help patients in need, our volunteer pilots are at the core of what makes the VPP so meaningful to Canadians. For many of our clients, a VPP flight will be their first time travelling on a small aircraft – making it a unique and memorable experience for everyone involved.

“I learned about people in remote communities and what they have to go through to get their child to proper medical treatment in a big centre. It’s a big strain on families, even with universal healthcare. So if there’s a way to help people live a more normal life, and if I can be part of that, I’m in. Hope Air is the bridge that brings people to the healthcare they deserve.”
– Wayne Harvey, Volunteer Pilot

Hope Air wouldn’t exist without the support and dedication of our volunteers. Head over to the Celebrating Our Volunteers page to read more volunteers’ stories and see all the ways we recognize their impact!
We encourage all Canadian pilots who meet our minimum requirements, as outlined in the FAQs below, to apply and join our volunteer pilot program.
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Volunteer Pilot Q&As

As an active volunteer pilot, you’ll be notified by email of VPP flights in your geographical area. You can then email Hope Air’s Client Care team to express your interest in operating a particular flight. If approved, Client Care will provide you with the instructions and details needed to support the mission.

You will then make contact directly with the client, to arrange for a meeting point, confirm details, and brief them on any specific flight-related information.

After the flight, you’ll complete a standard post-flight report that is filed with Hope Air’s records.
The minimum requirements an individual must meet to apply as a volunteer pilot are:

Hold a valid Canadian PPL, CPL, or ATPL pilot’s licence, and:
  • 500 hours total time
  • 400 hours PIC
  • 50 hours in current aircraft
  • 30 hours flying in the past 12 months
If the requirements are met, you may be selected to complete an interview and mandatory vulnerable sector background check.

Please note that we are not able to accommodate experimental, kit, and/or amateur-built planes, float planes, or helicopters as part of the program at this time.
Your passengers will be Canadians who are struggling to access medical care. This means they may have one or more medical conditions. VPP clients are screened to ensure they are able to safely fly in a small aircraft.
Typically, you will be asked to operate within your home province, which will include positioning to the departure airport, flying the client to the destination, and positioning back to your home airport.
After each flight, you will be required to complete a mission report which will cover details about the routes and distances flown. This gets submitted to the Hope Air team for our records, tracking, and fuel reimbursement purposes.
As a volunteer pilot, your fuel costs will be reimbursed by Hope Air at a pre-set rate. For other costs you incur that are not reimbursed, we will issue a charitable tax receipt.

Additionally, using the “HOPE AIR” callsign on VPP flights will allow air traffic services to designate your flight as exempt from landing fees and Nav Canada fees.
Yes, Hope Air carries insurance for all VPP flights in light aircraft up to eight seats. As a volunteer private pilot, you are still required to carry the usual and customary insurance coverage for light aircraft.
Hope Air is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from CTA licensing requirements and Commercial Air Service Standards that would apply to a standard Canadian commercial airline. However, we adhere to the highest standards, in full recognition of requirements outlined in the CTA, the CARs, and the CASS.
As an active volunteer pilot, you’ll be notified by email of VPP flights in your geographical area. You can then email Hope Air’s Client Care team to express your interest in operating a particular flight. If approved, Client Care will provide you with the instructions and details needed to support the mission.

You will then make contact directly with the client, to arrange for a meeting point, confirm details, and brief them on any specific flight-related information.

After the flight, you’ll complete a standard post-flight report that is filed with Hope Air’s records.
The minimum requirements an individual must meet to apply as a volunteer pilot are:

Hold a valid Canadian PPL, CPL, or ATPL pilot’s licence, and:

  • 500 hours total time
  • 400 hours PIC
  • 50 hours in current aircraft
  • 30 hours flying in the past 12 months 
If the requirements are met, you may be selected to complete an interview and mandatory vulnerable sector background check.
Your passengers will be Canadians who are struggling to access medical care. This means they may have one or more medical conditions. VPP clients are screened to ensure they are able to safely fly in a small aircraft.
Typically, you will be asked to operate within your home province, which will include positioning to the departure airport, flying the client to the destination, and positioning back to your home airport.
After each flight, you will be required to complete a mission report which will cover details about the routes and distances flown. This gets submitted to the Hope Air team for our records, tracking, and fuel reimbursement purposes.
As a volunteer pilot, your fuel costs will be reimbursed by Hope Air at a pre-set rate. For other costs you incur that are not reimbursed, we will issue a charitable tax receipt.

Additionally, using the “HOPE AIR” callsign on VPP flights will allow air traffic services to designate your flight as exempt from landing fees and Nav Canada fees.
Yes, Hope Air carries insurance for all VPP flights in light aircraft up to eight seats. As a volunteer private pilot, you are still required to carry the usual and customary insurance coverage for light aircraft.
Hope Air is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from CTA licensing requirements and Commercial Air Service Standards that would apply to a standard Canadian commercial airline. However, we adhere to the highest standards, in full recognition of requirements outlined in the CTA, the CARs, and the CASS.