Dubbo residents Char Woodbury and her daughter Emma, 10, regularly have to travel to Sydney for Emma to get treatment, and have been doing so since she was six weeks old.

Due to certain eligibility conditions, they haven’t been able to access flight services, but thanks to a friend putting Char in touch with Wings 4 Kidz, that has all changed.

Last Friday Char, Emma and Emma’s grandmother travelled to Sydney using the flight service.

Emma is currently undergoing candidacy for cochlear implant, and she currently wears bone anchored hearing aids, which involves a series of appointments before, during and after surgery.

Before the trip would take about 7 hours in driving and a couple of nights stay in hospital, but thanks to Wings 4 Kidz pilots Kevin Robinson and Chad Dunn, the journey now only takes a day.

Wings 4 Kidz services all over New South Wales, with about 70 per cent of the western region.

The free flight service helps seriously ill children needing treatment in city based hospitals and since services have picked up, they have been traveling to Dubbo and the surrounding region every second or third day.

Mr Robinson said it was humbling being able to help children and their families.

“These families are already going through a stressful time,” he said. 

Mr Robinson said since Wings 4 Kidz has three aircraft's and 5 pilots who are available 24/7.

“The better we do our job, the better it is for families,” he said.

Friday’s trip for Ms Woodbury and Emma was the second time they have used Wings 4 Kidz and she said it has made a world of difference.

“We found the process so simple and easy,” Ms Woodbury said.

“And above all that the pilots are so friendly and make us feel very welcome.Emma’s appointments can be intense. But she’s in a better trance of mind because it’s not as much traveling.”