Our History

The history of Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV) began with the founding of Mercy Medical Airlift (MMA) 35 years ago by Mr. Edward R. Boyer, President and CEO. Mr. Boyer has been rightly called the “Father” of charitable air transportation because he devoted over 35 years of his life to developing a comprehensive charitable air transportation system in America in both medical and disaster situations. The home office is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Mr. Boyer has created a nationwide network of care through a variety of programs including Mercy Medical Airlift (MMA), Angel Flight, The National Patient Travel Center, The Homeland Security Emergency Air Transportation System (HSEATS), Air Compassion America (ACA) and Air Compassion for Veterans (ACV). These programs enable thousands of patients every year to access life-saving or life-improving specialized medical care that would otherwise not be available to them due to barriers of disaster, time and finances.

Air Compassion for Veterans began servicing Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom for Afghanistan (OEF) wounded warriors in November 2006. Initial funding was made by the California Community Foundation. ACV provides free air transportation to qualifying wounded warriors and veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their adversely affected immediate family members, when the DoD and DVA cannot assist. Free flights are made available through commercial airline tickets, Angel Flight planes for less than 1,000 miles and air ambulance for those that are not ambulatory.

In November 2007 ACV started taking over flights for all veterans. These veterans and wounded warriors that served prior to the OIF/OEF conflicts had previously been served through our Angel Flight for Veterans for over 30 years. These free flights are predominantly through commercial airline tickets. We do utilize our Angel Flight planes when needed and provide discounted air ambulance rates for those that are non-ambulatory.

ACV flights have increased due to the exposure of veterans suffering with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and their adversely family members. “The Silent Epidemic” is the new nickname given to this affliction that affects more than 80% of combat troops in some degree. In more extreme cases, it is directly related to the large numbers of suicides, crime, drug abuse and divorces with veterans.

As a non-government organization, ACV is a non-bureaucratic operation that has the operational efficiency to serve wounded warriors/veterans with timely, efficient and free long-distance air transportation to military or VA medical facilities or other treatment facilities for specialized medical treatment; counseling by professionals trained in PTSD and TBI; rehabilitation programs to boost confidence in achieving victories over the physical and mental challenges of the injured; and access to service dogs to give veterans back their independent social skills and mobility.

No other veteran transportation program functions at or near this level of performance or with the full scope of available medical transport options, which include commercial airline, private aircraft and air ambulance travel.

ACV will provide free transportation to any treatment center, specialized counseling centers or venues that will promote healing.