The M.D of Taber and HALO Air Ambulance are honouring an air ambulance pilot who passed recently.
Grant Fletcher was not only one of HALO's original pilots, but he also helped shape the foundation of who HALO is, including its culture, values, and unwavering commitment to serving those in Southern Alberta.
According to his obituary, Fletcher passed away peacefully in Taber on Friday, July 25, at the age of 84.
Fletcher was born on February 5, 1941, and was raised on the family farm, which was southeast of Taber.
He developed a passion for flight early on, earning his pilot's license at the age of 16.
After farming and ranching southeast of Taber for several years, Fletcher received his commercial pilot's license and switched gears from farming to flying.
He spent many years flying spray planes, charter flights, and a helicopter, fighting fires, conducting wildlife surveillance, transporting patients in Newfoundland, and working for an oil company in Inuvik, NWT.
After that, Fletcher returned to farming, but in his retirement, he returned to flying as one of the founding pilots for HALO Air Ambulance.
Which he did until he was 82 years old, making him the oldest licensed commercial helicopter pilot in the country.
"Over the course of his career, Grant flew countless missions. Dispatchers, paramedics, and first responders knew him not only for his extraordinary flying skills, but also for his deep knowledge of the land and its people," a social media post from HALO Air Ambulance explains. "While GPS coordinates were still being calculated, Grant would ask, "Whose place is it?" More often than not, he already knew the way. His ability to navigate rural Southern Alberta was not just remarkable; it was instinctive."
According to HALO Air Ambulance, Fletcher completed his duties as a helicopter pilot with unmatched professionalism, skill, and grace, and as a medevac pilot, he flew with urgency, clarity, and a compassionate heart.
In 2024, HALO's annual HALO in the Hanger event was renamed the Grant Fletcher HALO in the Hanger, in recognition of his legacy and his impact on the program.
"On behalf of the MD of Taber Council, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Grant’s family, friends, colleagues, and the entire HALO team during this difficult time," the M.D. stated in a Facebook post.
To read his obituary, click here.