Spotlight on a Board Member: Meet Hans Fuegi October 17, 2023 A native of Switzerland who emigrated to the Western United States in 1979, Hans Fuegi’s interest in aviation started when he was just a kid. As a real estate, development and hospitality professional, Hans found himself owning a business in California but residing in Park City, Utah. For a born adventurer and successful restauranteur, that seemed the perfect time to learn how to fly. Hans took Evan, a membe… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Marcie Smith’s Aviation Journey: From NASA to AFW October 17, 2023 Francisco and his companion were able to get to Francisco’s care at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital with Marcie as their AFW pilot. It was a high school flight science teacher who sparked Marcie Smith’s interest in aviation. The class learned to read charts, plan cross-country flights, and test airplane wings in the school’s wind tunnel. As part of a unique curriculum, their educator even took stu… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Volunteer Rob Ross: Prosecutor, Professor, Partner, & Pilot October 17, 2023 Rob and a furry friend he flew to training on an AFW mission. Rob Ross has had his share of career experiences over the years, from L.A. lifeguard to prosecutor with the Ventura County District Attorney’s office to college professor. Today, he’s a managing partner with a family-owned real estate and solar investment company. Fortunately for Angel Flight West, he’s also been a volunteer pilot for more t… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Tom McGrath’s 30-Plus-Year Commitment to Charitable Aviation October 11, 2023 Following in his father’s footsteps, Tom McGrath started flying in college 50 years ago. And for more than 30 of those years, he’s been donating his talent and resources to give back. Tom’s charitable aviation journey began as an AirLifeLine volunteer pilot before he officially became part of Angel Flight West’s (AFW) network of volunteers in 1991. “Getting involved gave me an opportunity to fly more and to u… Jessica Hayes Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Meet AFW’s New Safety Officers April 12, 2023 Meet Alexios: My name is Alexi Stavropoulos and I am deeply honored to be serving as AFW’s Safety Officer along with Bruce Poulton. I am grateful to own a Cirrus SR22T. Without a doubt, my favorite flying activity in my Cirrus is to fly for AFW when my work schedule and weather permits. Both have been a challenge as of late. Otherwise, I love staying in the pattern, humbling myself! And of course, flying with my family.… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet the Honorees: Volunteer Pilots to be Recognized at Endeavor Awards March 24, 2023 Stephen and Joanna Bobko-Hillenaar of Angel Flight West (AFW) have been selected to be honored at the 2023 Endeavor Awards. Selected by the public and event committee, recipients of the award are recognized for their personal contribution and commitment to charitable flying by volunteering their time, resources, and aircraft to help others. Stephen and Joanna Bobko-Hillenaar of Angel Flight West “We… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Volunteers Takeoff on Third Annual Flights of Joy December 15, 2022 Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots are transforming their planes into sleighs, bringing holiday joy to families struggling with medical or personal challenges and the financial burdens related to their healing and recovery. Flights of Joy, AFW’s Adopt a Family program, started in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. Knowing that many families battling illnesses were also experiencing financial hardships, An… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Wingspan: Winter 2022 December 6, 2022 Welcome new Montana and Hawaii wing leaders! Mark Haakenson – Montana Wing Leader Mark Haakenson on an angel flight with his sweet co-pilot, Evelyn Mark Haakenson joined Angel Flight West as a Command Pilot in August of 2016. He is an 8,200+ hour ATP pilot with his CFII/MEI as well as an A&P with Inspection Authorization (I.A.). He works out of Great Falls (GTF) flying a Citation V (560) for a couple of brothe… Ivan Martinez Read More »
