Command Pilot and Camp Supporter: Meet Dirk Sanders June 24, 2025 Dirk Sanders’ love of airplanes began in childhood, when, at the age of five, he flew with his great-uncle in a Cessna 210 210 from his airstrip on the family ranch. Growing up in Idaho, his parents took him to airshows, where he watched military and civilian soar through the skies. After his family moved to Moses Lake, Washington, Dirk would often look skyward to see Boeing conducting test flights of the first Boeing 77… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight: Volunteer Pilot Art Schmidt of Montana May 28, 2025 Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots carry out acts of generosity each day by donating their time, talent, and resources to help others. Each time a mission is flown, a patient accesses the healthcare resources they need while being uplifted with hope. Meet the volunteers who make it all possible in this monthly newsletter and, if you’re a pilot in the West, get involved today by visiting angelflightwest.org/pilo… Gloriann Figueroa Read More »
Spotlight: Volunteer Pilot Rachel Witt of Colorado April 24, 2025 Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots carry out acts of generosity each day by donating their time, talent, and resources to help others. Each time a mission is flown, a patient accesses the healthcare resources they need while being uplifted with hope. Meet the volunteers who make it all possible in this monthly newsletter and, if you’re a pilot in the West, get involved today by visiting angelflightwest.org/pil… Gloriann Figueroa Read More »
Spotlight: Volunteer Pilot Pete Miller of Hawai’i Wing March 18, 2025 Pete Miller flies a mission for AFW passenger Arceli Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots carry out acts of generosity each day by donating their time, talent, and resources to help others. Each time a mission is flown, a patient accesses the healthcare resources they need while being uplifted with hope. Meet the volunteers who make it all possible in this monthly newsletter and, if you’re a pilot in th… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight: Volunteer Pilot Mark Oveson of Utah February 28, 2025 Mark Oveson flies a mission for AFW passenger Stetson Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots carry out acts of generosity each day by donating their time, talent, and resources to help others. Each time a mission is flown, a patient accesses the healthcare resources they need while being uplifted with hope. Meet the volunteers who make it all possible in this monthly newsletter and, if you’re a pilot in the West, get in… Jessica Hayes Read More »
AFW Announces New Board Chair and Board Members February 19, 2025 New Board Chair Emily Deaton Emily Deaton is the Chief Executive Officer of jetAVIVA, one of the world’s largest private jet sales organizations by total annual transaction volume. Since joining jetAVIVA in 2019, she has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, first as Vice President of Sales and then as Chief Operating Officer before assuming the role of CEO. Deaton began her aviation career with Emb… Gloriann Figueroa Read More »
Meet the New Leaders of AFW’s Wyoming Wing! February 19, 2025 JT Grainger Bob Meyers Meet AFW’s new Wyoming Wing Leader, J.T. Grainger and Deputy Wing Leader, Bob Meyers! J.T. Grainger J.T. Grainger, a lifelong aviation enthusiast, joined AFW in 2018. Growing up in Saratoga, WY, he developed a passion for flying at an early age, inspired by his family’s aviation background. Though an initial medical restriction prevented him from flying solo, he remain… Gloriann Figueroa Read More »
New Partner Spotlight | Press Release: Dogs for Better Lives January 20, 2025 CENTRAL POINT, OR (January 16, 2025) – A groundbreaking partnership between Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) and Angel Flight West is streamlining the journey for puppies and future Service Dogs, bringing efficiency and compassion to every step of their path toward service. This collaboration ensures that transportation is not just practical but also safe and timely, allowing DBL to focus more resources on tr… Jessica Hayes Read More »
5th Annual Flights of Joy December 19, 2024 Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots deliver gifts to patients and their families during the 5th Annual Flights of Joy program. Jessica Hayes Read More »
Utah Santa Flight at Vernal Airport December 18, 2024 A message from Utah Wing Leader Lou Rossi Our Utah Wing Volunteers really stepped up this year for our annual Santa Flight! We had 24 Airplanes and one helicopter delivering donated clothing, books, supplies and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus and their elves to the students of Ashley Elementary School, who were assembled inside the Classic Aviation Hangar at Vernal Airport. Not only that, but the school identifie… Jessica Hayes Read More »
New Board Member: Meet Mary Noli Pilkington November 5, 2024 We’re thrilled to introduce AFW’s newest board member, Mary Noli Pilkington! Mary is the Senior Director of The Department of Care Coordination and Clinical Social Work at UCLA Health: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital; UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, UCLA West Valley Medical Director, Transplant Services, and pediatric ambulatory care. As Senior Director, Mary provides d… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Reason to Fly: Spotlight on AFW Volunteer Pilot Joshua Pava October 16, 2024 Joshua Pava has always been fascinated by aviation. As a youngster, he used to do his homework at the local airport, watching planes as they took off and landed. “I always wanted to be a pilot when I grew up, though I’m not sure I’ve grown up yet,” he jokes. Just starting out in his career, Josh worked in tech doing software development. “My past paid for my flight lessons,” he says. “I got my private, instrument, and commer… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Heart for Helping: Meet AFW Volunteer Pilot Joseph Zammit August 28, 2024 Growing up on a farm in Michigan, the Earth beneath his feet was more familiar to Joseph Zammit than the sky. But even as a kid, Joseph found himself looking up toward the blue, dreaming of one day becoming a pilot or astronaut. “I always wanted to fly,” he says. Twenty years ago, Joseph achieved his goal, earning his private pilot license. But it wasn’t only about flying, it was about becoming a better, safer pilot, capab… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From a Volunteer: Driving the Last Mile August 5, 2024 Written by Clay Ross, AFW Area Leader for the Bay Area What do Angel Flight West (AFW) missions and the Internet have in common? The Internet is built to move data extremely quickly from one city to another. But that short segment between the nearest router and your home or business is much slower. The networking industry refers to this challenging, less-efficient segment as, “The Last Mile.” For… afw_web_admin Read More »
Spotlight on an Angel: Meet Phillip Council August 5, 2024 Meet AFW Volunteer Pilot Council I’m a first-generation pilot and got my start in aviation as a mechanic. How I ended up in the front of airplanes is a long story, but it started in the Air Force in 2008, when I was a crew chief on F-16’s. After some time doing that, I wanted closer to the action, so I changed my job and started flying as an enlisted crew member in the C-130J. Looking at options for my future… afw_web_admin Read More »
