First Flight on a Small Plane – From a Teen’s Perspective January 29, 2014 Angel Flight West flies patients of all ages to medical treatment. This week, we are going to focus on what it is like for a teenage patient flying to treatment with volunteer pilots. In 2013, Angel Flight West pilots flew a total of 485 flights for 172 passengers age 12-18. Some of these teens were flying for the first time with AFW and some were longtime passengers continuing their treatment. Kody took his first flig… Jill Dannis Read More »
Preparing Your Family to Fly: Practical tips to get ready for a medical flight December 20, 2013 You likely know by now that flying in a 4 to 6 seat aircraft is different than flying commercially. So what can you do to prepare yourself, and your kids, for a private flight to medical treatment or wherever you need our volunteer pilots to take you? There are a few simple things you can do to keep yourself and your children safe and comfortable on the flight. Hearing protection: Earplugs or a protective headset are neces… Josh Olson Read More »
How to Choose the Best Medical Treatment Outside your Hometown December 13, 2013 If you have cancer or another serious medical condition, you want to have the best possible treatment. But what do you do if you’re in a small town without specialized care or treatment options? What if you need a second opinion for a medical diagnosis? The decision to get medical treatment away from your hometown is an important one. Here are a few suggestions to help you make the best decision about treatment: Revie… Josh Olson Read More »
Techniques to Help Relax While You Fly to Medical Treatment. December 9, 2013 We’ve talked about ways to help a young child get comfortable with the idea of flying in a small plane. But what about those of us rational, level headed adults who have a fear of flying? When you are ready to take your first trip with Angel Flight West, we want you to have a relaxing and enjoyable experience. If you’re nervous about flying to medical treatment, you can use breathing exercises to help calm you during your fi… Josh Olson Read More »
Questions to Ask your Doctor about Flying for Medical Treatment December 6, 2013 It’s always a good idea to prepare a list of questions for your doctor’s appointments, so you can think about what you want to know before you’re in the stressful setting of a doctor’s office. If you are flying with Angel Flight West for surgery or medical treatment, here are a few questions to help you and your medical team plan your trip: 1. How soon can I fly after surgery or treatment? The time may vary greatly depending… Josh Olson Read More »
Resources to Prepare Your Child for Flight on a Small Plane December 4, 2013 Once your Angel Flight West Flight request is vetted with a healthcare professional and approved by an AFW coordinator, we will start preparations to connect you with one of our volunteer pilots, and you’ll be ready to take the next steps on the wings of “angels”. If the flight includes a small child, here are some materials to help prepare your child for their very first flight, or their first flight on a small plane. Fl… Josh Olson Read More »
New Electronic Waivers November 25, 2013 Here’s some good news from the mission coordination team: AFIDS now has an electronic version of the liability waiver form. This should make the waiver process simpler and more convenient both for our pilots and our passengers. The electronic waiver can be used on computers, tablets and smart phones. Passengers can “sign” the form using a mouse on the computer, or using their finger or a stylus on a tablet or ph… Josh Olson Read More »
Caregiving Resources November 22, 2013 Life happens, and being a caregiver can be overwhelming. We hope you have excellent doctors, nurses, social workers, and certainly family and friends who help you with day-to-day challenges and important healthcare decisions. One of those decisions may well be how you can regularly get to your treatment center. Remember you can count on AFW to help with free flights to medical treatment. Caregiving is rewarding a… Josh Olson Read More »
Medical Transportation from Angel Flight West: How Does it Work? November 18, 2013 At Angel Flight West we want you to know that good things come in threes. Two wings and an engine make a trio to provide flights for medical or humanitarian services. A pilot, a passenger in need and an AFW coordinator brought together “give hope wings” by arranging vital travel. A critically ill teen, a medical team and a new liver can all be connected by a volunteer pilot from Angel Flight West. Service, impact and help a… Josh Olson Read More »
