MAT Program

U.S. Medical Relief & Air Transport (MAT) Program

Based in St. Louis, MO – the Medical Relief & Air Transport (MAT) program serves patients throughout the Midwest.

What We Do

The Wings of Hope Medical Relief & Air Transport (MAT) Program provides medical air transport services, free of charge, to individuals who need specialized medical care that is not available to them locally. Using aircraft specially outfitted with stretchers to accommodate fragile and non-ambulatory patients, we fly individuals to hospitals and treatment centers in 26 states within a 800-mile radius of our St. Louis headquarters.

Volunteer Pilots

Average Fuel Cost / Flight

Missions Flown in 2024

Nautical Miles Flown in 2024

Gallons of Fuel Consumed in 2024

Who We Serve

Although we place no age restrictions on those we transport, a majority are children with congenital disorders, and rare or life-threatening health conditions. Once we start transporting these individuals, we commit to transporting them to post-op care and treatment for as long as necessary. The MAT Program relieves these individuals and their families of the stresses and financial burdens of arranging and paying for travel.

Who Makes It Happen

We rely on a highly skilled team of volunteers to provide safe, reliable transportation for the people we serve. Our volunteer pilots, mechanics, doctors, nurses and patient flight advocates must meet our strict training and licensing requirements. Our pilots must have their commercial pilot’s license and instrument rating and logged at least 1,000 hours in small aircraft.

To request a Medical Air Transport

Call us at
(636) 537-1302

OR Fill out the MAT Flight Request Form

MAT Flight Request Form

Meet Some of Our Patients

CJ's Story

Calvin (he prefers CJ) was born with clubfoot. His mom, Leigh, found the best treatment for him with the pediatric orthopedic specialists at Shriners Children’s St. Louis. The only problem was the 9-hour drive each way from their home in central Kansas. Since Leigh learned about Wings of Hope, we have flown CJ and his mom two times round-trip to St. Louis. CJ is doing great, but he will need to keep seeing his Shriners’ team at least until he is 8. Wings of Hope will continue taking care of the travel, so CJ and his family can focus on the important things, like CJ running, jumping, playing and generally being an active 5-year-old kid.

Bryson's Story

Twelve-year-old Bryson has been traveling from Tulsa, OK, to Shriners Children’s St. Louis Hospital since he was 6-months old for leg lengthening surgeries and follow-up appointments. Unfortunately, his family only learned about Wings of Hope in January 2023. Since then, Wings of Hope has been flying Bryson and his mom to Shriners every two-to-four weeks, saving the duo the exhausting 15-hour round-trip drive. We are so happy Bryson and his family discovered Wings of Hope, and that we can do our part in making traveling to his Shriners’ appointments as hassle-free as possible.

Elizabeth's Story

Born premature and with mild cerebral palsy, Elizabeth spent the first five years of her life pulling herself around using her forearms. Fortunately, Elizabeth’s family learned about St. Louis Shriners Hospital and Wings of Hope — and we have been flying her from her home in central Kansas to St. Louis since February 2018. After two major surgeries, ongoing and intensive physical therapy, and 55 flights, Elizabeth is now walking with arm crutches and progressing beyond her doctors’ expectations.

“We could not be where we’re at today if it wasn’t for Wings of Hope getting us where we needed to be for the medical help she needed. Thanks to Wings of Hope and the amazing care we get at Shriners Hospital, Elizabeth is thriving. There’s just no stopping her now — she will run!” — Elizabeth’s Aunt Pat