Angel Flight West’s Passenger Assistance Fund February 23, 2022 The Mission Ops Team at Angel Flight West strives to make sure that each and every passenger and family we work with is well served and reaches their desired destination. The first and foremost way that happens is you – the volunteer! Whether you fly your plane or drive your car, you make it happen for them, with your heart and your generosity. But sometimes circumstances are such that a mission can’t be completed by o… Cheri Cimmarrusti Read More »
AFW Provides a Haven from Chaos February 20, 2022 Technological progress has hit the fast forward button on our society, and, at times, it seems like we’re all playing catch-up. We find it increasingly difficult to take a pause to reflect or find a foothold at this blistering pace. With endless distraction and information overwhelm, it can be hard to appreciate just how historically momentous this time is. We attach grand labels like “The Great Resignation” or “… Alexandro Ramirez Read More »
What is Hard IFR? February 20, 2022 Winter is almost over (but not quite) and the weather is changing. Spring is a time of quickly developing weather systems and unpredictable weather. Not that long ago I sat in my house in the Cascade foothills at 1,800 MSL and watched the effects of the portion of the “bomb cyclone” that passed through our region. We didn’t get it as bad as other places like Northern California but I was looking at hig… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
In the Hangar: Meet AFW’s 2 new Board Members! February 17, 2022 Angel Flight West welcomes two incredible board members to our team: David Petrillo and Mark Merrill! We also welcome aboard our newest Mission Operations Coordinator, Natalie Peters! David Petrillo David Petrillo is a Bay Area native with a degree in pharmacy from Missouri State University. After graduation, he returned to California and founded his e-commerce skin care company, Perfect Image. David h… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
A Mother’s Reflection: Angels in Hawaii February 17, 2022 January 28, 2021 was a day our family will never forget—our lives were forever transformed with our six-year-old son’s diagnosis of a brain cancer called Medulloblastoma. At the very start of this journey, we were transferred by air ambulance from our island, Maui, to Oahu, because our community did not have the resources needed to treat our son. We knew this would be a challenge we would have to face on our son’s road t… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
AFW Annual Retreat 2022 February 10, 2022 Thank you to all who joined us at our Virtual 2022 Retreat! We celebrated AFW, shared our successes, championed our amazing volunteers, and strategically planned to help more families in need of our services! Unfortunately, we weren’t able to gather in person in the way we’d prefer, so we connected virtually for the weekend. We thank our AFW community for your time, effort, and for making 2021 an… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
Angel Flight West honored at Public Benefit Flying Awards December 8, 2021 DECEMBER 6, 2021 Angel Flight West was honored to be recognized alongside incredible individuals and organizations engaged in flying to help others at the National Aeronautic Association and Air Care Alliance’s 2021 Public Benefit Flying Awards in Virginia. Among the honorees were: Distinguished Volunteer Pilot AFW Montana Wing Leader, Michael Burks Champion of Public Benefit Flying JSX, AFW partner who has… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
Wingspan: Outreach – I want to help, but where do I start? November 18, 2021 Awareness of our services is one of Angel Flight Wests’ biggest ongoing challenges. Most people don’t think about general aviation aircraft when trying to figure out how to access their medical care hundreds of miles away. That’s why outreach is so vital to our mission and growth, and why it’s up to us to reach out to those that need us most. As a grassroots-focused, volunteer-intensive organization, AFW relies on de… Ivan Martinez Read More »
From Cheri’s Desk: A Reflection on 24 Years November 18, 2021 Each year around this time, I tend to look back at my years here with AFW. As I pass the 24-year mark, memories of passengers past and present come to mind. But something that always makes me smile is thinking about those passengers who have been flying with us for many, many years. It is some of these folks who are the reason behind why we all care so much about what we do for AFW. That is true for staff and volunteers alike… Cheri Cimmarrusti Read More »
In the Hangar: Meet AFW’s 3 new Board Members! November 18, 2021 Christy DeYoung is Founder and President of Jet RVSM Services, LLC, an Oregon based aviation services company. Jet RVSM combines regulatory expertise and technical writing to assist aircraft operators with international special airspace and equipment authorizations, safety management systems and related flight department FAA-compliance activities. Christy graduated from UC Davis with a BA in English an… Kaitlyn McQuown 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 »
Communications Corner: The perfect setting for a story to be born November 18, 2021 An Angel Flight is the perfect setting for a story to be born. As a passenger and a pilot glide together above the clouds, looking down over landmarks, nature, and bustling cities or quiet countrysides, they connect in the air for a fleeting moment, as if time has stopped. The worries of both navigator and traveler are left on the ground for just a while, if ever so brief. In the case of Angel Flight West, that moment is part… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
AFW Safety: Flying at Night – Laser Dangers November 18, 2021 The team at Angel Flight West hope you are enjoying the fall season! Recently I did a mission from San Diego to Imperial in the Eclipse. It was a beautiful IFR departure through low level clouds out of Montgomery (MYF) then quickly over the clouds, watching the bright moon which my passengers and I enjoyed. Twenty minutes later I was landing on Runway 32 at Imperial (IPL). The airport can blend in with the surrounding lig… Rich Pickett Read More »
Angel Flight West Ascends Past 90,000 Missions November 18, 2021 In a quiet moment, pilot Jon Lange looks back from the cockpit of his Socata/TBM 700. Jon is one of 1,800 volunteer pilots who fly for Angel Flight West, and today he’s setting a milestone: this flight is the charitable aviation organization’s 90,000th mission. His passenger, Jenny, is gazing out the window at the clouds in wonder alongside her sister-in-law Alejandra. It’s Jenny’s first time i… Kaitlyn McQuown Read More »
What Angel Flight West Passengers Don’t Say September 29, 2021 Understanding Our Passengers Upon finding a pilot for an Angel Flight West (AFW) mission, the AFW staff frequently calls the passenger only to hear. “I never heard from a pilot, so I scraped together money from friends and family to buy a commercial ticket,” or “I started driving yesterday,” or even, “I canceled my appointments.” This type of response is really frustrating, both for staff and pilots. We work hard to… wagadmin Read More »
