A Pilot’s Privilege: Ryan Cowley’s Service to Others August 30, 2023 Flying has been a part of AFW Volunteer Pilot Ryan Cowley’s family for generations. His father was a Life Flight helicopter pilot, and his Pappy was a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). Following in their footsteps, Ryan became a CFI three years ago. “I enjoy teaching others how to fly and how to become better pilots,” he says. “I wanted to share my passion for aviation with others.” Based in Utah, Ryan considers his st… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From Nurturer to Nurtured: Tim’s Battle with Merkel Cell Carcinoma August 14, 2023 As a retired educator, Tim spent years nurturing at-risk youth, using his carpentry skills to teach green building to his students. At the time, he was also balancing a return to college with being a single father to his two children. His efforts paid off, and he won a leadership award for his work with teens, bestowed by the Craig and Susan Thomas Foundation in Wyoming. Now, it’s Tim’s turn to be nurtured. Just over a yea… Jessica Hayes Read More »
What Happens When It’s Time to Pull the Ripcord? July 26, 2023 Written by Northern California Wing Leader Gil Takemori It was turning out to be one of those missions that you wouldn’t soon forget. I was at the airport, pre-flighted and ready to go when I discovered that my patients were running about an hour late for our departure. No problem, I’ll just wait at the terminal and catch up on some emails and reading. About 90 minutes later, they arrived a little worse for wear due to t… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Introducing AFW’s New Volunteer Services Coordinator July 25, 2023 Meet our new Volunteer Services Coordinator, David Nathan! David holds a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Cincinnati. He joins our team with more than 12 years of experience in aviation and holds a pilot license and instrument rating through Sporty’s Academy. Before joining AFW in 2023, he served in roles as Lead Flight Coordinator & Charter Sales Representative. Additionally,… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight on a Board Member: Meet Eric Chadwick July 25, 2023 With a longstanding interest in aviation, Eric went on a discovery flight in 2018 and was instantly hooked. “Angel Flight West was on my mind from the very first day of flight training,” says Eric. “I knew aviation was not accessible to everyone and that learning to fly would be a great way to further my philanthropic ambitions. During training, I was focused on building time to meet the 250-hour AFW requirement for Com… Jessica Hayes Read More »
July Safety Update July 25, 2023 Passengers. ATC. Weather. Evil instructors. That little needle that’s pointing somewhere it shouldn’t. Stuff that demands your attention when you’d rather just be pre-flying, flying, or post-flying. We pilots are just humans (Except George. You know who you are), and we’re subject to distractions that interrupt our regular flows, checklists, and processes. Angel Flight pilots in particular are carrying pas… Safety Officers Read More »
How One Veteran Is Supporting Fellow Service Members July 15, 2023 Each year, Angel Flight West (AFW) partners with the White Heart Foundation (WHF) to fly veterans to the Guardian Project, a therapeutic outdoor experience for post-9/11 veterans. Your donation towards our summer fundraiser helps us arrange missions for veterans, ensuring those who have served can access the resources they need. Corporal Jed Morgan, the foundation’s camp creator and director, h… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Challenges Won’t Stop Campers From a Fantastic Summer July 6, 2023 Year after year our team has the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of summer camp season. We see the power these therapeutic programs have for young burn survivors, for children with life-threatening or life-altering illnesses, and for kids with a variety of needs and backgrounds. For many youngsters, camps are a summer sanctuary — a place where they can forget any troubles and make summer memories… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Four Siblings Fly to Deaf Camp with Volunteer Pilots June 5, 2023 A father of two small children, volunteer pilot Ori Zaitzman appreciates that his AFW missions can be tailored to fit his busy life. Last summer he flew two young brothers, Jaxon and Jaden, to Lions Wilderness Deaf Camp — a haven where deaf and hard-of-hearing children learn outdoor skills and form invaluable friendships. “I asked the passengers’ family if they wanted me to bring my puppy,” Ori said. “They wer… Jessica Hayes Read More »
General Aviation Saves Lives: Volunteer Pilot Flies First Angel Flight May 26, 2023 As an Angel Flight West passenger for the past five years, Joan is somewhat of a pro at boarding and flying to care in small planes. “I live in Las Vegas,” she says. “I had intestinal troubles beginning in 2014. Now, every three months, I travel to see my Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), Vascular and GI specialists at UCLA.” Knowing that paying for transportation to her medical care wasn’t feasible long-term, one of he… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Born With Bilateral Anophtalmia, Little Girl Loves to Fly May 22, 2023 For Heaven Wright, a single mother, finding a community of support has always been essential. Her two-year-old daughter, Monroe, was born without eyes — and the Wrights’ hometown of Las Vegas offers limited resources in optometry. “Monroe has hydrogels,” Heaven says, “which go in place of eyeballs and have prosthetic shells over them. We found a doctor in Utah who was the only doctor able to do those.” Now, Heaven an… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Jeff Moorhouse May 19, 2023 About ten years ago, as he set off for yet another work conference in Northern California, Jeff Moorhouse decided to sidestep commercial air travel and instead fly with a fellow financial advisor — a retired naval aviator who had his own Cessna 182. For Jeff, that experience proved to be life-changing. “I was hooked,” he said. “A few weeks later, I was taking my first flight lesson.” Now, Jeff isn’t just flying himself… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Introducing AFW’s New Director of Outreach May 1, 2023 We’re thrilled to share that Russell Stearns has joined Angel Flight West (AFW) as our Director of Outreach! Russell holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from California State University. As Director of Outreach with AFW, Russell oversees strategic planning and initiatives related to volunteer recruitment and healthcare collaborations. Russell is excited to be part of the organizatio… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From Cheri’s Desk: Spotlight on an Angel May 1, 2023 Tiffany S. was born in 1993 and a mere six days later she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Tiffany’s condition was manageable for many years, but when she was 17, she was listed for a double-lung transplant. Tiffany received that surgery the same year and before she was 18, she had two new lungs – and a new lease on life. However, five years later, Tiffany’s body began to reject the orga… Cheri Cimmarrusti Read More »
The Sky’s the Limit for Elias: Flights to Post-Transplant Care April 25, 2023 Each Angel Flight West passenger holds a special place in our hearts – and that includes the committed companions who accompany patients on their journey. A third of our missions are for minors traveling long distances to treatment, and it’s an honor to help lighten the load for the parents and caregivers flying by their side. As a single parent and foster mom in Spokane Valley, WA, Heidi began fostering… Jessica Hayes Read More »
