A Pilot’s Perspective April 10, 2020 A pilot’s note to the family of a passenger who has passed. By Command Pilot Alex Polvi Alex Polvi with passenger Michael on the right. I can’t imagine the grief you must be going through. As a pilot for Angel Flight West, I had the special opportunity to fly your brother from Santa Barbara to Santa Monica. Our flight is specifically memorable to me and I thought you might appreciate hearing the story. … Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Wing Leader News April 10, 2020 by Ivan Martinez, Director of Outreach and Wing Operations Incoming Wing Leaders Hawaii – Chad Holcomb It’s my pleasure to welcome back Chad Holcomb as Wing Leader for the Hawaii Wing. Chad has previously served as the Hawaii Wing Leader in 2009 after moving to Hawaii from California. Chad began flying in the 90s, receiving flying lessons from his dad. After graduating from college, Chad obtained his pilot li… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
In the Hangar April 10, 2020 An In-depth Conversation with Adriene Rockwell, AFW Grant Writer One of three of our wonderful grant writers, Adriene Rockwell 1) So, what is your actual AFW “official” title? I am one of three grant writers on the team, along with Kathleen Masser and Kim Okamura. 2) And when did you come on board to AFW? Oh my goodness, good question. It must be 2011, because that’s how far my grant proposals go back. 3) How did you come to… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Volunteer “Angels” Deliver Crucial Supplies April 1, 2020 On Monday morning, Denver resident Phil Rosnik took off from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport with 85 pounds of hand sanitizer in the cargo hold of his Cessna TR182. Destination: Wray Community District Hospital. It’s not a typical flight for Rosnik, who’s a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight West (AFW), a charitable aviation organization that arranges free air transportation for people who need… Ivan Martinez Read More »
Wingspan November 17, 2019 Angel Flight Welcomes and Thanks Incoming and Outgoing Wing Leaders by Ivan Martinez, Director of Outreach and Wing Operations Incoming Wing Leaders Incoming So. CA Wing Leader Jeff Moorhouse Jeff and passenger Suzanne B. Please join me in welcoming Jeff Moorhouse as AFW’s new So. CA Wing Leader. Jeff is a Certified Financial Planner and Advisor with Moorhouse Financial Services, Inc., located in Carpinteria an… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
In the Hangar November 16, 2019 -Stephan Fopeano, Angel Flight West Webmaster- Ever wonder where the magic comes from that is the Angel Flight Information Data System (AFIDS), now called Volunteer Pilot Organization Information Database System (VPOIDS)? You might also ask who’s behind these apps that have helped institute this technology for AFW? The answer lies with our very own Stephan Fopeano, Angel Flight West’s Webmaster. And “Ma… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
MISSION MOMENT November 16, 2019 by Stephen Bobko-Hillenaar Aedan today Aedan and his mom circa 2009 When one flies a lot of Angel Flight missions and has been a member of Angel Flight West for a number of years, he or she comes across many varied missions. There are the burn victims that might be flown to a burn camp, or to a locale with a Shriner’s hospital. There’s the camper flown to cancer camp only to find the next year he is not joining you… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
SAFETY MESSAGE November 15, 2019 By Jim Dell Can you guess what I am writing about this month? Oh no, not the stall again! Yes, you’re right. I didn’t intend to, but a funny thing happened while planning my usual crash and burn presentation for the SoCal Wing Meeting. The night before the meeting, I woke with a start, realizing that this meeting was advertised as a “family day!” Golly, I can’t show crash and burn videos to a bunch of kid… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Angel Flight West fills an important need for children like Jane November 7, 2019 Little Jane is on the road to health despite multiple health challenges and many specialist visits. Sweet little Jane from Kalispell, Montana was born prematurely with heart disease, Down syndrome, and other complications, and spent 37 days in the NICU as doctors fought to stabilize her condition. At four months old, she narrowly avo… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Jessica battles terminal illness far from home November 7, 2019 Jessica is receiving life-saving bone marrow treatments at a hospital 700 miles from her home. Struggling with mounting medical bills, your gift helps her and her family not have to worry about this one aspect of her health care. “I always thought I could handle any situation,” Jessica told AFW, “being a wife, mother, having a rewarding… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Joseph’s Angel Flights are more than just transportation to his doctors November 7, 2019 Thirteen-year-old Joseph might possibly love aviation more than any other teenager in Auburn, Washington. Joseph was born in China and spent his first 11 years in an orphanage before he was adopted by single mom Joanne and brought to the U.S. That flight changed his life in more ways than one. Joseph had his first flying lesson shortly after because his newfound passion for airplanes was so great. The special thing ab… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
In the Hangar August 29, 2019 Kim Okamura Kim Okamura comes to Angel Flight West as the newest grant writer! Kim started with AFW in April 2019 after she heard about the opportunity through a friend who previously worked with Mary Hunter, AFW’s Director of Development. Kim joined AFW after a career as a professional ballet dancer and then in grant writing and administration with other arts nonprofits. This is her first time away from the arts, but… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Mission Moments August 29, 2019 Command Pilot Pete Bernardin Pete Bernardin is the type of person who naturally brings joy to any room or cockpit. His presence offers a positive relief to those around him; an opportunity for some lightheartedness, which is often not found in many of Angel Flight West’s passengers’ lives. Staff at the AFW office also benefit from Pete’s presence as his office visits always provide a much-needed break from th… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
You Helped a Wounded Warrior Connect with Others at Special Camp July 11, 2019 Jed M. served in the United States Marine Corps in Afghanistan where he triggered an IED, losing both legs above the knee and severely damaging his right hand. He was transferred to Germany, then to a US hospital for about four months following two more years of rehabilitation. A couple of years after his injury, Jed learned that a buddy who was in thesame hospital in San Diego, and had seemed to be doing verywell, had com… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Angel Flight West salutes the USS Midway Foundation July 4, 2019 In honor of this holiday, our AFW Safety Officer and Command Pilot, Jim Dell, shares a short story on his experience aboard the USS Midway and his current role at AFW. And we salute the USS Midway Foundation for their support of our flights for veterans in need. Fourth of July Mission Remembrancesby Jim Dell This story begins around the 4th of July 1987 when I had my first flight from the aircraft carrier USS Midway. Midwa… Henny Alamillo Read More »
