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# Retired local physician departs on goodwill tour of 49 states
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/retired-local-physician-departs-on-goodwill-tour-of-49-states/
- Published: 2002-05-09T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:16:35.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

A local pilot took flight this week on a three-month trip around the country to tout two local organizations that help people in need.

Dr. Bernie Harris, a retired anesthesiologist and Santa Monica resident, will travel to 49 states to distribute information about two groups that he is ambassador of — the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps. and Angel Flight.

The Emergency Volunteer Air Corps. is a group of pilots and volunteers who are ready in the event of a disaster to transport key city personnel to Santa Monica from outlying areas.

Angel Flight provides flight transportation for people who need to travel for medical care but cannot afford airfare. Harris flew 40 missions for Angel Flight last year.

Harris is traveling mostly alone and estimates the trip will take between 2 1/2 to 3 months. He has been planning the trip for four years and will fly the southern states first and then head up the eastern seaboard. From there, he will fly across to Idaho and into Alaska. He will return down the West coast to Santa Monica.

Harris has been flying for 32 years and has logged 3,600 hours of flight time.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/050902-07_01.jpg)

of the Santa Monica Fire Department Dr. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 9, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050902.pdf?ref=smdp.com)