Personal Minimums September 29, 2021 All pilots, especially those who are instrument rated (those that are licensed by the FAA to fly in instrument meteorological conditions – i.e. clouds), are familiar with the term ‘personal minimums’. It speaks to being aware at any given time to what a pilot-in-command is comfortable doing. For example, although a pilot may be instrument current and legally allowed to fly a landing to minimums, they may not be co… wagadmin Read More »
Passengers First September 29, 2021 You may be aware that in 2008 there were three Angel Flight accidents with fatalities in other Angel Flight regions. To say this may be tempting fate, but to date Angel Flight West still has a perfect safety record while carrying passengers. An optimist would say that everything is working fine and we don’t need to change anything. A pessimist would say that we’re due and we need to do something immediately. A realist sa… wagadmin Read More »
Alexandro Ramirez, AFW Earth Angel Coordinator July 9, 2021 “We had no idea how we were going to make it San Francisco.” “This was going to be a 12-hour drive each way for our family.” “I’m going to have to sell my house.” “I can’t keep asking my friends and family for more money to cover my trips.” Every day we receive phone calls from people who feel that they’ve run out of options. There’s always a unique tension on the other end of the line, and in the caller’s tone of voice, you can hea… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Wingspan July 9, 2021 Ivan Martinez, Director of Outreach & Wing Operations As many of you may know, a Wing Leader is a volunteer role taken up by a dedicated and passionate individual who steps in to lead their respective Wing and team of volunteers. For the Northern California Wing, Bob Strawn has been that amazing individual. Bob has orchestrated several patient, provider, and pilot outreach activities throughout the state that… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
From Cheri’s Desk: Kicking off Camp Season July 9, 2021 Camp season started this year with a bang as Champ Camp returned! And what a joyous event it was for campers, counselors, pilots, and the Mission Ops staff. While those watching from the outside may have thought the staff was buried in craziness and chaos (and they would have been right!), the truth is we were so energized to be back making sure that 35 campers and two counselors-in-training made it to Wonder Valley near… Cheri Cimmarrusti Read More »
AFW Safety News: Logging Cross-Country Time July 9, 2021 Logging Cross-Country Time It is probably easier to navigate through the fog without instruments than trying to determine how to log cross-country time. How you classify your flight time as cross-country depends upon the context of its use. As the FAA has written before, there are multiple ways to define the logging of cross-country time. First: The FAA defines cross-country ti… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Spotlight on an Angel July 9, 2021 Ramiro O. Passenger Ramiro with AFW Pilot Ajay Kishinchandani Sandra and Ramiro’s first flight anywhere was on a commercial airline to Florida for a vacation. Sandra has claustrophobia. Her only thought as they waited on the tarmac in a plane that was delayed for a reason she can’t remember was that she “was going to die.” She didn’t really ever want to fly again. Fast forward to her first flight with AFW to Seattle for… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Inside the Hangar July 9, 2021 Kaitlyn McQuown, AFW Communications Manager A new Communications Manager at Angel Flight West has just landed! Meet Kaitlyn McQuown, who joined the AFW team on June 24. She first became aware of Angel Flight through her work as Communications Coordinator at The Painted Turtle, a medical specialty camp, some of whose campers arrive via AFW missions. Struck by the breadth and importance of Angel Flight’s wor… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Angel Flight West Welcomes New Board Members March 31, 2021 Laura Long – Waimea, HI and Bigfork, MT Laura is a retired Chief Financial Officer in the electronics equipment field. She’s served with a number of charitable, non-profit, and local government boards, including Habitat for Humanity, American Association of University Women, and the Flathead Community Foundation, and as a trustee of her county library system. Laura previously served on the Angel… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Wingspan March 31, 2021 Hope for Survivors of Domestic Violence By Ivan Martinez, Director of Outreach & Wing Operations Leaving is sometimes the only solution. But what if your safe place is miles and miles away? Domestic violence relocation flights have long been a part of Angel Flight West’s mission. Helping those in a time of greatest need is what we’re all about and that could be escaping a difficult and often violent domestic situ… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
In the Hangar March 31, 2021 Kathleen Masser, AFW Grant Manager aka Storyteller For this newsletter’s “In the Hangar” article, we’d like to highlight Angel Flight West’s first grant writer, Kathleen Masser. Kathleen tends to avoid any public recognition if she can, so we are very pleased that she finally agreed to share her AFW story with us. Grant writing is part of the foundation that lets Angel Flight West continue to do what it does. It plays… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
We Are Mission Ops March 31, 2021 by Alexandro Ramirez, Mission Operations Coordinator We are the AFW Mission Ops Team, and you’ve probably spoken to us on the phone; however, a phone call or even a series of phone calls can only tell you so much. I’m here to unpack the unique personalities that make up the team. If you find yourself in Anne’s cubicle at the AFW office, you inhale a breath of fresh air. Why? Because she likes to surround herself with life. S… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Spotlight on an Angel – Mariah S. March 31, 2021 Born a healthy baby, at age 15 months Mariah started pulling on her ear and indicated that her head hurt. Her doctor suggested a referral to Seattle Children’s Hospital for what he referred to as an “abnormality of the head.” A social worker in the office put her in touch with AFW and within 24 hours they had a flight. Three doctors were consulted and the diagnosis was neuroblastoma, a type of pediatric cancer that develo… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
2023 Volunteers March 31, 2021 Thank you to all our volunteers who drove an Earth Angel trip or flew a mission in 2022! Volunteer Pilots Christopher AdamsRandolph AdamsJoseph AdashekGabrielle Adelman Gerard AdrianiMichael Aker Michael AllenBrad AllredEliot AlperDavid Amspoker Chris AndersonMichael ApodacaGonzalo ArdavinThomas ArnoldKeith ArrolD AspDrake BaerresenFrank BagheriMason BaileyThomas BalchDwight BaldwinScott Bald… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
From Cheri’s Desk March 31, 2021 Giving Hope Wings through Commercial Airline Partners by Cheri Cimmarrusti, Associate Executive Director Everyone is aware of the value of partnerships in a successful business. I mean, where would Pitney be without Bowes? How much fun would your toddler have if Fisher hadn’t met Price? And… would the Captain have been able to sing without Tenille? All good questions to toss around on your nex… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
