Dogs With Wings: AFW Partners with Search Dog Foundation October 24, 2022 Since our inception, Angel Flight West (AFW) has proudly joined forces with a range of non-profits that extend and enhance our mission of delivering health and hope through donated flights. In 2020, we embarked on one of our most enriching collaborations yet — by offering continued support to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF). Command Pilot Jerry Phan takes to the skies with Keiki. Rescuing and rec… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight on an Earth Angel: Meet Dotian August 26, 2022 For 34 years, Earth Angel Dotian McReynolds was a harpist with the National Symphony in Washington, DC – and a traveling musician who played in nearly all of America’s 50 states. She was, by any professional measure, a master of her craft. She was also, by her own admission, addicted to direct engagement with her audiences. “The division between the audience and the orchestra always bothered me,” Dotian said. “Tha… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Angel Flights Are An Easy ‘Yes’ for Yosuke Tanaka August 26, 2022 “If someone needs help, I’m flying to help.” Command Pilot Yosuke Tanaka lives by those words. As a plane and helicopter pilot, Yosuke has flown his share of missions to help those in need. Since moving to Hawaii seven years ago, Yosuke has helped with search and rescue missions to locate missing hikers and fishermen. It was this passion to help others that led Yosuke to also take on the role of Angel Flight West voluntee… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From Cardboard Planes to Angel Flights: Spotlight on Sven August 16, 2022 As a child, Sven Freitag loved to sit inside cardboard boxes and pretend they were planes. He’d even draw his own ‘cockpit panels’ on the inside before ‘take-off.’ But today, as a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), Sven can skip the sketching altogether and authentically take to the skies. “I turned my childhood dream into reality by earning my private certificate,” Sven said. “I’m now a com… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Volunteer Pilots Give Hope and Air Support to Jose August 11, 2022 As his eyesight gradually diminishes, Jose Reyes Del Valle has naturally found himself turning to various friends in his time of need — especially as reliable medical transportation can now be a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, two of Jose’s newest friendships happen to be Angel Flight West volunteer pilots Trevor Moody and Yuriy Chanba. Together, Trevor and Yuriy have flown Jose on two… Jessica Hayes Read More »
More Than a Hobby: Flying Kids to Summer Camps July 19, 2022 In addition to flights for medical treatment, Angel Flight West provides flights for hundreds of children to attend summer camps each year. Our young passengers — some of them burn survivors, others blind or visually impaired, or navigating life-threatening illness — make a difference to each of our volunteer pilots. For pilot Vic Jaro, aviation isn’t just a pleasant hobby — it’s deeply conne… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Fighting Cancer from the Air: Volunteer Pilots Make a Difference July 12, 2022 Volunteer Pilots with Angel Flight West make a difference each day. Because of their generosity of time and resources, more patients with critical illnesses, like cancer, are able to access medical treatment. As a retired United Airlines captain, and as the personal owner of two Cirrus aircraft, Tom is quick to recognize he’s lived something of a charmed life. “I’ve been gifted with many advantages,” he said. “[… Jessica Hayes Read More »
The Gift of Flight and Time June 16, 2022 A volunteer pilot since April 2020, Kosta Constantine has logged more than 27,000 flight hours in his trusty Beechcraft Baron. Lately, some of his most treasured time in the air has been spent with Nicole H. — including during her fourth birthday. At a time when other kids might solely be focused on games and toys, Nicole and her mom, Mirna, have had other important things on their wis… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight on an Angel: Command Pilot Chris Bennett November 18, 2021 To Command Pilot Chris Bennett, an Angel Flight represents more than a simple drop-off. Since he began flying missions in February of 2014, he has developed meaningful friendships with passengers who fly regularly with him. Two of these passengers are Eileen and Tiffany: two women in different walks of life, with different personalities, traveling for different reasons and for different treatments, but both ha… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
