Flood’s fascination with aviation began early. “It was about breaking the bonds of earth and getting a whole different perspective, a way to look at things,” he reflects. “Looking down at the world… it just looks smaller and different. I’ve been fascinated by that ever since I was a kid.”
As a 12-year-old, watching Air Force F-4s roar overhead, he knew he wanted to fly. That dream led him from the Marines to a career with the Flying Tigers’, the first scheduled cargo airline in the U.S. When the Flying Tiger’s merged with FedEx, Captain Flood went with them and spent a further 33 years flying DC-8s and MD-10s.
Heroes of Orbis: Captain Michael “Flash” Flood
Captain Michael “Flash” Flood has spent a lifetime above the clouds and has been volunteering as a pilot for the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital since 2016. He has piloted the aircraft on an amazing 36 flights, bringing essential sight-saving care to communities around the world.
Michael "Flash" Flood sits in the cockpit with fellow volunteer pilot Gary Dyson.
While Flood’s career was built on moving freight, his work with Orbis is about moving cutting edge ophthalmic training equipment. He finds something special in Orbis’s close-knit team. "This cohesive unit here at Orbis is such a family. It’s really lovely to fly around in your own personal jet with your family,” he says, describing the unique camaraderie among the global volunteers, staff, and crew. “It’s quite something to share the journey with a team united by a purpose.”
His introduction to Orbis came by chance over breakfast in the Philippines. There on a brief stopover, Captain Flood met a mechanic who invited him to tour the second-generation Flying Eye Hospital. That tour, on board the DC-10, opened his eyes to Orbis’s mission, and sparked a years-long pursuit to join the Orbis pilot roster.
Captain Flood has piloted the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital around the world.
For Captain Flood, volunteering with Orbis is about more than flying; it’s about making a tangible difference in the world. “It is such a great way for all of us to give back in our own special way. I’m just honored to be part of it,” he reflects. Witnessing the immediate impact of sight-restoring surgery is profoundly moving: “Strabismus is the one that really catches my attention…to have that cured in 15 minutes. I mean, in the time that people sit down for a cup of coffee. I’ve seen a surgeon in Vietnam do one eye on a 14-year-old and then move on to both eyes on a seven-year-old. It changes their lives forever. To me, that’s just unbelievable."
He also notes that flying our beloved plane is a technical challenge. “These airplanes, ironically, fly better when they’re heavy … the hospital is very heavy itself.”
For Captain Flood, it’s the destinations and the mission that make each flight memorable. “I’ve been flying for over 30 years and I’ve gone to more places that I’ve never been with Orbis in the last four years…Malta, Cameroon, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Santiago, Panama City. It’s amazing.”
Captain Flood’s story is emblematic of the dedication and spirit that define our volunteer pilots and medical professionals. People who want to give back and help others, and make the world a better place in the process.
Thank you “Flash” for your years of dedication. Thanks to you, thousands of families can access the eye care they deserve.
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