ACA Board Member and former Angel Flight West Executive Director Josh Olson shares a heartfelt remembrance of ACA President Jim Hesseman—reflecting on his leadership, dedication, and the lasting impact he made on the charitable aviation community. Jim passed away on June 24, 2025.
Written by Josh Olson
It’s difficult to find the right words to honor a man like Jim Hesseman—someone whose life’s flight path was charted not just by skill and service, but by a deep, unwavering compassion for others.
Jim was an amazing volunteer in the public benefit flying community. As a longtime volunteer pilot for Angel Flight West and Flights for Life, he logged countless hours in the sky to help those in need on the ground—patients, families, and communities that he may never have met again, but whose lives he changed forever. He did it without fanfare. Just purpose.
He went further, founding White Feather Flight, a program dedicated to helping those who had experienced a death of someone close to them, and helped them find hope and healing through the magic of flight. Jim understood that sometimes the greatest gift you can give a person isn’t just a ride, it’s the chance to rise above pain and see possibility again.
I had the privilege of working alongside Jim during his tenure as President of Air Care Alliance, where we shared a vision for scaling and strengthening the network of volunteer pilot organizations across the country. Jim brought wisdom, humility, and a steady hand to every challenge, always leading with integrity and grace. He listened more than he spoke—and when he did speak, we listened.
His leadership and impact were recognized nationally when he received the Public Benefit Flying Award from the National Aeronautic Association, an honor he humbly accepted on behalf of “everyone who makes this work possible.” He ended his speech saying, “Do as much as you can, for as long as you can, for as many as you can. And if possible, in an airplane.” And now, as we mourn his untimely passing, I ask all of us who knew him, flew with him, or were inspired by him—to carry that legacy forward.
Jim’s absence leaves a hole in our hearts and in the skies he filled with so much good. He was a mentor, a friend, a quiet hero, and a force for good. We miss him deeply.
Blue skies and tailwinds, Jim. Thank you for your heart for serving others.