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 »
Help Us Help You March 31, 2021 By Rich Pickett, AFW Safety Officer As always, thanks for spending your time and resources flying AFW missions. One of the ways that AFW matches pilots with missions is by using your pilot credential information in your profile. In looking at our data, I’ve noticed that in a number of cases we may not have current pilot credential information, in particular instrument flight capabilities. In so… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
Two Patients, One Couple, Fly to Treatment March 12, 2021 Your support helps people like Jack and Carol get the specialty care they need when living in remote towns where access to health care is limited. Jack and Carol B. on one of their missions from Monticello, Utah to Salt Lake City for cancer treatment they both were receiving at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Jack also flies to Provo where he is receiving care after a heart attack. Carol and Jack are a husband-and-wife team w… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
AFW Transports Patient to Unconventional Treatment March 12, 2021 Thanks to you, stress from long car trips is reduced – another barrier to receiving health care. Command Pilot Frederick Klarmeyer taking a selfie with Ronald L., Ron’s wife Janelle, and their fluffy companion flying from Boise, ID to Seattle, WA for care of Ronald’s liver cancer. Ron L. had gone to his doctor for a routine check-up. When his doctor asked if there were any issues, Ron mentioned that he felt a little unco… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
A Special Child and a First-Mission Pilot Fly to Treatment March 12, 2021 Thanks to you, many families like Liliana’s are able to get the critical care they need. Command Pilot Brock Boscovich flying baby Liliana in stroller and her mother home to Lovelock, NV from treatment at UCSF in San Francisco for serious congenital health challenges. Her five other children and husband are there for the send off. The doctors told Jerri that her baby, Liliana, showed multiple problems in utero. They… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
AFW Safety News December 10, 2020 Winter is coming! By Rich Pickett, AFW Safety Officer While it is difficult to realize that winter is coming here in San Diego, I sometimes encounter actual snow or ice on a runway! I thought it might be nice to share some pointers, especially for those pilots who don’t normally operate under these conditions. Having lived and flown in the Rockies, Cascades, and back East, winter flying can be an adventur… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
WINGSPAN December 10, 2020 Joining the Search: National Disaster Search Dog Foundation & Angel Flight West by Ivan Martinez, Director of Outreach & Wing Operations From Left to Right, AFW Command Pilot Michael W. and his mission assistant, Director of Canine Operations Tracy Darling, Director of Canine Recruitment Sylvia Stoney, search dog Harley and SDF Founder Wilma Melville. So Cal Wing Leader Jeff Moorhouse knows a great out… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »
In the Hangar December 10, 2020 Dana Tankenbaum, AFW Volunteer Intern Angel Flight West welcomes our newest intern Dana Tankenbaum. Dana works in the office as a volunteer scheduling social media posts, reviewing mission photos submitted to us from our volunteer pilots, entering various data, and occasionally answering calls if the Mission Ops team are on the phone with other callers. Dana heard about AFW through the UCLA version of the career… Wendy Weisenberg Read More »