Michael Alger's day job is serving as a firefighter and paramedic for the city of Mount Dora, and in his spare time he volunteers as a pilot for Angel Flight Southeast - providing free flights to those in need of specialized medical care.
"When you have the potential to help somebody else out doing what you love, there is nothing better," said Alger, 45, of Umatilla, who has found his Angel Flight missions make flying much more rewarding. He is one of 650 volunteer pilots flying on behalf of the nonprofit organization.
"I love meeting the passengers and hearing their stories," he said. "It's very inspirational what they have to go through. It kind of validates what I am doing ... Just to be part of the process to help them is an amazing honor."
He has flown 25 missions since 2012, piloting a Rockwell Commander 112TC that he owns in partnership with another pilot. Their white plane, trimmed in black and gold, is stored at a Umatilla Municipal Airport hangar.
Alger's love for flying dates back to when he was a kid. He remembers family friend, state Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla, would take him flying.
"I just liked the freedom," he said.
Each time Alger is in the air, he feels the same excitement, and he proudly noted his father was a navigator on a B-17 in World War II.
"He would always show me pictures of war planes, tell me stories and take me to air shows, and I'm sure that had a lot to do with it," Alger said. His brother was into aviation, too, serving as crew chief on an A-10 in the Air Force.
Alger learned to fly in 2000 with his initial training at SunAir at the Leesburg International Airport. He received his license the following year.
He's now trained to fly four different types of aircrafts, including seaplanes.
"I like to get as many ratings and endorsements as I can, and I'm working on my commercial license right now," Alger said. Becoming a commercial pilot, he said, may become his "encore career" in later years.
At the moment, he's devoted to Angel Flight Southeast, and he knows it's something his late mother, Joan, would love seeing him do. She was the one who encouraged him to get his pilot's license.
"I lost her to cancer in 2009," Alger said, yet he found it fitting that his first Angel Flight passenger was a woman with the same first name as his mom. "That was my most memorable flight," he said.
His longest Angel Flight was to Miami, while most trips are to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
"Having a purpose makes aviation so much more than just a hobby from my perspective," he said.
"The volunteer pilots in our network truly believe that they are the ones benefiting the most from the effort," said Steve Purello, Angel Flight Southeast CEO and himself a volunteer pilot. "Their passion for our Angel Flight Southeast passengers is further fueled when the community gets involved with helping the people we serve get the medical care they need."
While Angel Flight Southeast's volunteer pilots donate their time, fuel and airplanes to fly passengers, Purello said the organization relies on monetary donations to cover the various fees and services required to keep their pilots and passengers in the air.
Angel Flight Southeast will host its 19th annual Golf Tournament on Nov. 11 at Arlington Ridge Golf Club. The event is one of Angel Flight Southeast's signature fundraisers and the charity invites the public to support the event by purchasing a foursome or providing a sponsorship.
Participating golfers will be treated to breakfast and lunch that day, as well as take part in several other activities including a "Helicopter Ball Drop Raffle," an opportunity to shoot the golf ball "bazooka" and a chance for four people to win $1 million for a hole-in-one. Foursomes can elect to be paired with a sports celebrity or community VIP.
