Morris resident takes a flight plan less traveled

As Matt Kiger carefully packs his fresh crab cakes from Baltimore, Md. into a to-go container, he knows a treat awaits him upon his arrival home. For Kiger, a pilot for the company Aerocare, treats like fresh crab cakes are just a part of the job. In fact, on any given work day, Kiger can be called to fly anywhere in the United States, or even Canada with the possibility of still making it home in time for dinner. “I have definitely seen things and been to places I normally would not have the opportunity to see,” Kiger said in reference to his job. Kiger, a resident of Morris, has been flying airplanes for the last 11 years. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Kiger always knew one day he would become a pilot. “I can remember my mom taking us to a parking lot across the street from the airport,” Kiger said. “We would sit in the car and watch the airplanes fly away. I really don't know what I would be doing if I wasn't flying.” This statement is evident by the model airplanes that line Kiger's garage. The planes, in different models and colors, have been a favorite pastime of Kiger's since he was a child. But Kiger knew early on that his lifestyle as a pilot was different from other 9-to-5 jobs. “My wife is really understanding,” Kiger said. “She knows what this lifestyle is like firsthand, which helps immensely.” Both Kiger and his wife Amy were training at the University of Illinois School of Aviation when they met. Upon graduating, they moved to Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. It was there that they worked together as flight instructors for the company Wings Air Charter. After spending about a year in Wisconsin, they returned home to Morris, where they once again worked together as flight instructors, but this time for Lewis University. Always wanting to experience life in the commercial airlines, Kiger took his first officer position with Skyway Airlines. “It was a good experience and I am glad I did it,” Kiger said. But as luck would have it, Kiger, along with hundreds of other workers, lost their jobs when the airline made cutbacks last March. “It was really meant to be, although I didn't think so at the time,” Kiger said. Knowing that he did not want to leave the aviation profession, Kiger applied to Aerocare, an air ambulance service with a location in Sugar Grove, Ill. Upon first hearing about the position, Kiger was eager to learn more. Kiger quickly himself in a unique situation. Instead of flying people, back and forth, from vacations and business trips, his new responsibilities now included flying patients and organ transplants, along with a flight nurse and a flight medic, all across the United States. Kiger is the captain of the Beechcraft King-Air 200 airplane. “You have to be extremely flexible,” Kiger said. “There could potentially be an emergency landing at any time when a patient is aboard.” Patients who use Aerocare typically require medical attention, but they are not able to be transported on a commercial airplane. Kiger has flown people with serious medical conditions that need to be transported to distant medical centers, as well as patients who have been hurt while on vacation and need to get home. “We have a certain amount of time to get to where we need to be,” Kiger said. “It's all time critical. When an organ donor dies, there is only a certain amount of time that the organs have to be transplanted.” Kiger does feel the pressure when he gets a time critical phone call. “I know once my phone rings, and that patient only has so long to get to the hospital to get a transplant, there is an urgency to the situation.” A suitcase is always packed and his uniform is always pressed and ready to go. So far, the worst thing Kiger has witnessed is children with health problems. He is learning to do his job and separate himself from the situation, but that doesn't make the process easy. “Yes, I do go home and wonder how the patient is doing,” Kiger said. “It's human nature. The hardest part is children who are sick. We are on the verge of starting a family and to watch sick children, which is every parent's worst nightmare, is very difficult.” Kiger and the crew must take precautions when flying patients. He credits the “phenomenal medical crew” for always keeping himself and the co-pilot safe from contamination. And, of course, Kiger and the crew do have to take weather factors into consideration. “You include the crew and make decisions based on your skills and experience,” Kiger said. “I always try and include my crew. We all have really great communication and it really just makes for a better work environment.” And, even though Kiger waits patiently at home for a call, he is always ready to get into that airplane and do his job. “That is part of the allure of flying,” Kiger said. “I can't wait to get up there. It's just a really good feeling, plus I am part of a team that is really providing a service that people need.”