The first noticeable symptoms were small tremors in her hands and within days it rapidly progressed to the point where she could not stand or walk. As you can imagine, this was very scary for us, and we immediately brought Taylor to the emergency room. After being seen at the local emergency room in our town, we were immediately transferred to Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) where this nightmare was just beginning. Our baby Taylor endured the first four days at PCH going through every type of procedure, blood draw, and imaging you could think of just looking for a diagnosis and reason for her symptoms. All the while, she was still deteriorating.

The doctors first informed us the ataxia (loss of muscle control) was caused by a viral infection from an illness weeks prior. That unfortunately was not the case and the next day the neurosurgeons entered the scene and told us that Taylor actually had a cyst on her spine causing the loss of muscle control. Unfortunately, yet again, this was not the case as the next day we were met by the general surgeons and oncology doctors who gave us news that no parent should ever have to hear, “We found a tumor.” A cancerous tumor was found attached near Taylor’s spine and wrapped around her descending aorta. What followed was a miraculous surgery by very talented surgeons who were able to remove the cancerous tumor. After weeks of being in a hospital, Taylor was allowed to leave all the while knowing that she had a long road ahead of her.

We wanted the absolute best and were going to stop at nothing to get that for her. Since her syndrome is so rare, we wanted to get second opinions on how to best treat her, and that is where Angel Flight West comes in. From the first phone call to our last flight, they have been the most wonderful people to deal with.

In particular, we’d like to thank pilot Dennis for all that he has done for us. He has bent over backwards to do everything in his power to assist in our journey of finding the best treatment for our daughter. Not only has Dennis picked up multiple flights, but he was also so kind to drive us from the airport to our hotel during Los Angeles rush hour traffic which added many hours to his trip. Dennis is genuinely one of the nicest persons we have ever met, and we’re convinced that if we needed something from him tomorrow, he would find a way to make it happen. Taylor loves seeing and flying with Dennis and asks about him often. The rides are smooth and comfortable, and his hospitality is second to none.

Although we are blessed that Taylor’s cancer has yet to return, we are still trying to navigate the treatment for her rare syndrome which has been very difficult. This journey has been long, the struggles have been deep, and our faith has been tested like never before, but we believe that God does all things for the good as His plan for Taylor is perfect. Having this great organization and volunteer pilots who are there in our corner to help any way they can has made it easier and brought us comfort knowing that we are able to easily travel to other states to receive the best treatment possible.

The post Spotlight on an Angel: Meet Two-Year-Old Taylor first appeared on Angel Flight West.

“We had our first mission for The Service Dog Connection to fly Guillermo, the 150 lb Saint BerNewfie, to his new home,” says AFW Mission Coordinator Julia. “It was determined that Guillermo was most needed as a First Responder Therapy Dog, doing fire and police station visits, peer support, and critical incident debriefs to help reduce the rates of PTSD among the First Responder community.”

New volunteer pilot John Romero of the Idaho wing flew his first AFW mission, flying Guillermo halfway to his new home. Mark Duncan, an AFW volunteer pilot with decades of fire and rescue experience, signed up to fly the second leg, even bringing Guillermo a firefighter hat to honor the occasion. “There was no way around the inclement weather for Mark’s flight, so Mark flew Guillermo back home to Las Vegas and drove him all the way to Flagstaff, Ariz. to meet his handler,” says Julia. “It takes a village!”

Just a few days later, AFW flew its second mission for The Service Dog Connection. Bill Sutherland of the Oregon wing flew Elliot from San Luis Obispo to Bend to complete his final service dog training. This time, Julia, a dog lover herself, got to fly along as a Mission Assistant. “It was both mine and Command Pilot Bill Sutherland’s first mission,” says Julia. “It was so much fun. I’m thrilled that we’re able to help more people by flying these sweet dogs to where they’re needed most.” 

Angel Flight West is proud to partner with other organizations that train canines for important roles, including the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation and Silver State Service Dogs.

The post AFW’s New Partnership with The Service Dog Connection first appeared on Angel Flight West.

Don has been a volunteer with AFW for years with 14 missions to date in his Cessna T210. We’re thrilled to welcome him to this new volunteer leadership role.

Don says, “I am passionate about many things from helping others to exploring the great outdoors. As the Founder and President of Echelon Group, I channel my passions into my professional life. Born, raised, and educated in Boise, I have been in the employee benefits and insurance industries for over 30 years.

“I am an avid mountain biker, backcountry pilot, and whitewater rafter. I have scoured the mountains hiking and have seen breathtaking landscapes by flying my plane through the back country. While I love the outdoors, I thoroughly believe in connecting with the community around me.

Caption: Don on a mission to fly California Condor egg from The Peregrind Fund World Birdsbof Lrey Center in Boise to the San Diego Safari Park.

“I combined my desire to serve others and love for flying by donating my time and airplane to nonprofit organizations. From donating backcountry flights to auction off at their charity auctions, to flying birds of prey and eggs for The Peregrine Foundation, to flying missions transporting patients for medical treatment for Angel Flight West, using my pilot skills and airplane for charitable work allows me to feed my flying habit while flying with a purpose.”

We send a sincere thank you to Idaho’s outgoing Wing Leader Steve Laflin for years of service as a volunteer pilot and wing leader. Steve will remain highly involved with AFW as an Area Lead.

The post Wingspan: Meet New Idaho Wing Leader Don Reiman first appeared on Angel Flight West.

If you ask Ace about these acts of generosity, he’s quick to recognize the other AFW volunteers who have answered the call to help patients in need of transportation to health care. In 2023 alone, eight pilots donated a total of 189 flights in Hawaii, with Osamu Manabe flying 36 missions and Ron Gess flying 33 missions.

And if you ask some of Ace’s passengers, they’re just as fast to share the overwhelming gratitude they have for Ace. One of those passengers is Jerry from Kona who has fly to Honolulu for cancer treatment twice a month. “Ace is amazing,” says Jerry’s wife Annie. “He’s even inspired our son Mikey to fly. It takes a special person who wants to give back this way.”

Ace jokingly says he flies for Annie’s home-baked chocolate chip cookies, but the truth is, Ace flies to make a difference, saying, “The gratitude of the passengers makes it all worth it.”

The post Meet Ace: AFW’s 2023 Top Flyer first appeared on Angel Flight West.

Richard is retired and lives with his wife Adrienne in Anacortes, WA. A UK/US dual citizen, he spent his career in the automotive and powersports industries. Richard’s most recent position was Chief Operating Officer for Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, responsible for marketing, sales and service for all of Kawasaki’s recreation and utility products. Prior to that he was Executive Vice President for marketing and sales at Jaguar Land Rover North America and spent 34 years at Ford Motor Company in the UK, Germany and in the USA, reaching VP level.

Richard owns and flies a Jaguar-edition A36 Bonanza and is an active Command Pilot for Angel Flight West. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, WI.

Welcome to the board, Richard!

The post Meet AFW’s Newest Board Member, Richard Beattie first appeared on Angel Flight West.

We also share our gratitude and thanks to our outgoing wing leaders, including Steve Bollinger (Utah), Tim Barrios (Arizona), Barbara Ausherman (Nevada), and Jeremy Katz (Washington).

If you’re interested in supporting recruitment and outreach initiatives in your area, please contact the Angel Flight West team or your local wing leader.

Lou Rossi – Utah

We announced last fall that incoming Utah Wing Leader, Lou Rossi, would be working directly with long-time and dedicated UT Wing Leader, Steve Bollinger, on all day-to-day Wing Leadership activities. As of the beginning of 2024, Lou has officially taken over the role.  

Lou says, “My enthusiasm for aviation was sparked in Southern California back in 1986. As I watched the MCAS El Toro Air Show, I knew my current career as a computer programmer wasn’t going to satisfy me. Thus, my aviation journey began.

“At that point, I decided to make a career out of it. Over the years, I’ve worked as a flight instructor, charter pilot, and ultimately an airline pilot for several different airlines. I am currently a Pilot with Delta Air Lines based in SLC. 

“The aviation community has given me so much in life, and angel flights seem like the perfect avenue to return the favor while also giving a lift!  So, I joined Angel Flight West in 2015 as a Command Pilot. In 2017, I helped start the Sopwith Camel Flying Club in SLC.  

“It’s an honor to be a part of such an incredible organization, and I look forward to serving the Utah Wing going forward.”  

A resident of Park City, Lou flies a Cessna T210 and has been an AFW volunteer pilot since 2015. 

Thank you, Steve Bollinger, for being an amazing leader and volunteer, both by flying patients to care and by co-leading Utah’s Santa Flight, ensuring children in Title 1 schools receive supplies, donations, and cheers each holiday season. 

Alan Underwood – Arizona

We’re also pleased to announce that Alan Underwood will being taking over as Wing Leader in Arizona.

Alan Underwood, Arizona Co-Wing Leader, is a real estate developer and investor. Throughout his career, Alan has built a reputation for launching & scaling successful businesses in a variety of industries, including restaurants, automotive, insurance, aviation, & real estate. A resident of Mesa, he joined AFW in 2022 and flies a Beechcraft Bonanza. 

Alan says, “One of my most rewarding endeavors has been my involvement with Angel Flight West. As a Command Pilot and Arizona Wing Leader, I have had the opportunity to use my love of flying to provide free air transportation to patients and their families who require specialized medical treatment far from home. Whether it’s through my work with Angel Flight West, my real estate development projects, or my involvement in the community, I am always striving to make a positive impact in the world. I am also committed to sharing my knowledge and experience with others, whether it be through mentoring, public speaking, or writing.”

A resident of Mesa, AZ, Alan flies a Beechcraft V35B and has been an AFW volunteer pilot since 2022. 

A sincere thank you to Tim Barrios, outgoing Arizona Wing Leader, for years of dedicated service to connect pilots and passengers to our mission.

Shawn Linch – Nevada

Moving further northwest, we’re excited to announce that Shawn Linch will being taking over as Wing Leader in Nevada.  

Shawn says, “I’ve been a pilot for ten years, nine of which I’ve had the privilege of being a command pilot for Angel Flight West. Based out of Reno, NV (KRNO), I’ve been obsessed with aviation since my first introductory lesson. Whether it’s low and slow in a Cub or blasting off across the Atlantic Ocean in a single-engine turboprop, I absolutely love the adventure, freedom, and beauty of the world looking down from the sky.  

I’ve met some incredible people over the years, both by flying missions and by working with individuals within the organization. AFW has always been near and dear to my heart, and I’m excited for the opportunity to help promote and grow the Nevada region.” 

A resident of Reno, NV, Alan flies a Socata TBM 860 and has been an AFW volunteer pilot since 2015. 

A sincere thank you to Barbara Ausherman, previous Nevada Wing Leader, for years of dedicated service, including her leadership and outreach at aviation airshows and events.

Ricardo Lagos – Washington

Next up, we’re thrilled to announce that Ricardo Lagos will being taking over as Wing Leader in Washington.

Ricardo says, “For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a fascination with flight, and I was one of those kids who always wanted to see the cockpit whenever we flew somewhere as a family. That fascination eventually turned into a passion, but not until later in my life.

“I am a software engineer by trade. My career and young family brought me to Seattle in 2014.  In 2021, during the COVID epidemic, my attention turned to dreams I’ve always had, but never thought I had the time to accomplish. Soon, though, I was flight training at Rainier Flight Service out of Renton, WA.

“My desire to complete a lifelong dream of becoming a pilot turned into a passion, and I was instrument rated in 2022. Since then, I’ve spent as much time as I can in the Pacific Northwest skies in my 76 Piper Cherokee.

“I prefer to fly for a purpose, and early during training, I became aware of Angel Flight West. I made it a goal to reach the hours required to do my first mission, and by the end of 2023, I had completed 7 missions. I feel a connection to Angel Flight because of my own personal experience as a father of a special needs child. The kindness of strangers when we are dealing with a crisis in our lives goes a long way.

“As the wing leader for the WA region, I am here at your service. I look forward to getting to know as many of you in our aviation community and helping us serve as many families as we can.”

A resident of Seattle, WA, Ricardo flies a  Piper PA-28 and has been an AFW volunteer pilot since 2022.

A sincere thank you to Jeremy Katz, previous Washington Wing Leader, for years of dedicated service, both through gifted flights and by helping AFW make important connections throughout the Washington wing.

Dave Lombard – Central California Area Lead

Finally, we’re also delighted to share that Dave Lombard, AFW Command Pilot for more than 20 years, will be assisting NorCal Wing Leader Gil Takemori by taking on the role of Central Calif. Area Leader. “Dave has been a key contributor for AFW and is the first of several area leaders we hope to recognize in the coming months,” says Gil.

A resident of Mariposa, CA, Dave flies a Cessna 172 and has been an AFW volunteer pilot since 2003.

The post Wingspan: Announcing New Wing Leaders in UT, AZ, WA, and NV. first appeared on Angel Flight West.

Last month, AFW’s Utah volunteers brought holiday cheer to the students of Sunset Elementary School via this year’s Santa Flight! Since 2000, pilots have filled their airplanes with school supplies, books, hats, coats, backpacks, and toys for students at Title One schools in rural communities.

We extend a sincere thank you to all our volunteers for making this possible, including the incredible Santa Flight coordination team: Phil Titus, Steve Bollinger, Lou Rossi and Joanne Brattain.

From Julie Smith, Principal at Sunset Elementary

“Our school was selected to participate in Santa Flight this year.  We had an amazing experience!  The Angel Flight team met with us very early to plan and address questions.  We met several times in person and virtually throughout the process.  The Angel Flight staff was amazing to work with!  They organized everything and had a great itinerary that was followed for the assembly.  

“Our school is a Title One, walking school.  Our students were excited to ride a bus out to the airport for the event.  We let parents know about the event several months in advance so they could share the QR code for donations and we could ensure that we had a permission slip for every child.  We used grant funds to pay buses and for a beanie, gloves, and book for every child and had volunteers come help us wrap these gifts for children to open the morning of the event.  Our students wore their beanies and gloves to the airport where they sat in a hanger and watched the planes come in and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive.  We had a short program and the students sang songs with Santa and got a candy cane.

“We received donations of toys, clothes, shoes, coats, etc. and were able to provide a complete Christmas for 50+ students and clothing for at least that many more students.  Every student at our school also received multiple books.  The whole experience was positive and is a memory that our students will have forever.  I am so glad that I was able to learn about Angel Flight and the amazing organization that it is.  They do incredible work and were professional and organized throughout the whole process.  I would jump at the chance to participate again!”

Video Recap

In the News

Angel Flight pilots bring gifts, donations to Title I schools

Sunset Elementary students meet Santa Claus at St. George Airport through Angel Flight West

https://www.abc4.com/news/southern-utah/volunteer-pilots-fly-in-christmas-gifts-to-500-utah-kids/

The post A Principal’s Reflection: Utah’s Santa Flight first appeared on Angel Flight West.

For nurses like Marlene Hutchison, giving is second nature. She spent her career in health care, ensuring patients were well taken care of while helping them recover from a range of conditions and illnesses. That’s why when she came across Angel Flight West while browsing the web a few years ago, she knew she had to get involved.

After all, the world of aviation wasn’t new to Marlene. She earned her pilot’s license in 1976, and even though she doesn’t fly anymore, Marlene says she, “missed being around airports and people who fly.” After retiring as a nurse, she needed to figure out what was next, and becoming an Earth Angel with AFW was, as she says, “a perfect fit.” 

Every day, Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots fly patients to major cities, often from rural areas, for medical appointments — and then back home again. Our Earth Angels play a critical role by driving passengers between local airports and treatment centers. Since 2021, Marlene has volunteered to drive dozens of people to Seattle, Wash. for specialized care, completing more than 123 ground missions to date. 

After experiencing her own medical scare seven years ago, Marlene says she’s thankful for her health and aims to pay it forward by helping people travel to their treatments. Her generosity has touched the life of Jennifer from Wenatchee, Wash. who has received 35 donated flights and 24 Earth Angel rides to access her ovarian cancer treatment at Lifespring Cancer Treatment Center. 

When speaking of her AFW experience, Jennifer says, “Marlene isn’t just a driver to me. She’s a good friend. We’ve gotten to know each other really well through our trips. She’s an incredible lady and I feel honored to know her and spend that time with her in the car.”

Today, Marlene has taken on added volunteer duties by helping with volunteer recruitment initiatives throughout the state of Washington. Volunteering as an Earth Angel is a meaningful way to give back to your community, and you choose when and how often you drive. 

If you live near Seattle or another major city throughout the West, learn more and sign up at https://angelflightwest.org/earth-angel.

The post Meet Marlene: Driving Passengers the Last Mile to Care first appeared on Angel Flight West.

“There was no other good way to get from one place to another,” Hans said, “without a twelve-hour drive, or an airline ticket that still didn’t get me where I wanted to go.” 

So, after getting his pilot’s license in 1985, Hans bought his own plane — a Piper Turbo Arrow IV — and linked up with AirLifeLine, through which he volunteered flying passengers with medical and health needs. Hans then joined Angel Flight West in 1999. 

By the time AirLifeLine had merged with Angel Flight West in the early 2000s, Hans was ready to continue his mission of support. Today, he’s a proud board member of Angel Flight West, where he soars amidst a growing network of over 1,800 volunteer pilots that serves more than 5,000 passengers a year across 12 Western states.

“Every single flight is always satisfying,” Hans said. “You serve a much-needed purpose. I get as much out of it as the passengers do.” 

Many of those passengers have left indelible impressions on Hans’ memories. Recently, as part of a two-leg mission, Hans flew a devoted mother, Violet, from Billings, Montana to Ogden, Idaho for treatment. But these two were hardly strangers: Violet has been flying with Angel Flight West for nearly 20 years, and with Hans himself for 15.

“This is a reason, I believe, many Angel Flight West pilots fly: to provide a crucial service. You don’t know how good you’ll feel until you do it.”

Though Hans’ spirit of generosity has remained a steady constant since his first days in the air, his aircrafts of choice have changed as his flight skills have deepened. For the past three and half years, he’s piloted a Phenom 100 — a small, light jet he shares with fellow Angel Flight West volunteer, Mike Valentine.

“The Phenom certainly does what Mike and I need it to do,” Hans said. “It has a really good safety record — it’s been almost flawless. As I get later in my life, that’s important to me.”

Each time Hans takes to the skies with an Angel Flight West passenger, he’s reminded of that crucial commitment to safety — especially as he’s wowed by the grace and compassion of his various flight companions.

“I recently flew a young lady from Salt Lake City to Boise. Eighteen or nineteen years old,” Hans said. “She wanted to donate a kidney to someone who needed it. She just felt it was the right thing to do. I thought that was amazing.”

For Hans, the opportunity to transport unforgettable people to and from their most personal medical needs remains a cherished gift — and a responsibility he never takes lightly.

“I’m not in this for ego or anything else,” Hans said. “I’m in this to see if my talent can help move Angel Flight West along, and to grow with it a little bit.”

The post Spotlight on a Board Member: Meet Hans Fuegi first appeared on Angel Flight West.

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 students flying in a Cessna 172.

The experience stuck with her, and Marcie eventually earned her Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University. In her first career role as a flight operations engineer for NASA’s Pioneer program, Marcie had a view of Palo Alto Airport’s runway directly outside her office window, and as she says, “It seemed too easy not to sign up for flight lessons.” 

Marcie earned her pilot’s license in 1988. The following year, she and her NASA colleague Nancy Ames signed up for Angel Flight West, flying their first mission together in March of 1991. Since that first donated flight, Marcie has flown 125 missions. “It’s a great way to mix your passion for being a pilot with helping people who need this service,” she says. 
 

Some of her earliest trips were part of AFW’s summer specialty camp program. Marcie signed up to fly campers to and from Fresno, Calif. to attend Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation’s Champ Camp. “Those missions for burn survivors really hit home for me,” says Marcie. “I’m really glad Angel Flight West got involved with those programs.” Decades later, AFW continues to fly children to these summer sanctuaries for a week of healing and friendship. 

Still reflecting on past missions, Marcie also recalls her flights with Lacey, a young girl who had a heart transplant at 18 months old and needed to fly to Stanford Children’s Health – Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital for post-transplant medical care. “Lacey’s heart transplant was so momentous to me,” says Marcie. “She stands out in my mind.” 

Those flights stand out in Lacey’s mind, too. Today, Lacey is a Program Manager with Donate Life California, helping to spread the word about the importance of organ donation. While she was too young to remember names, Lacey says she remembers the faces of all the pilots who flew her and her family from their small town of Placerville, Calif. “We had to go back and forth to Stanford Health a lot,” she says. “That was another financial burden for my family. I’m so grateful there were people to help us.”

Today, Marcie lives in Sunnyvale, Calif. and flies a Cessna 182. She’s also a part of The Ninety-Nines: International Organization of Women Pilots, and she tells her fellow female pilots about AFW any chance she gets. “It’s a great group of people from top to bottom,” says Marcie, “and you meet some pretty amazing passengers.”

As AFW prepares to fly its 100,000^th mission this fall, we’re honored to recognize Marcie for her 30+ year commitment to charitable aviation. Thousands of lives have been changed, and will continue to be changed, through donated flights from Marcie and our other volunteers.

The post Marcie Smith’s Aviation Journey: From NASA to AFW first appeared on Angel Flight West.

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 than three decades. 

Rob’s love of aviation began when he flew with his uncle when he was young and stayed with him into adulthood. Rob earned his pilot license in his mid-thirties and soon after, signed up to fly for Angel Flight West. “My family’s always been charitable,” he says. “And this was a good way to give back to the community.” 

And give back is exactly what Rob did. He’s flown more than 300 AFW missions, and when he and his wife Cathie aren’t flying to Missoula, Mont. to visit grandkids, he’s still signing up for flights amidst his busy work schedule. “Rob has been one of our go-to volunteers over the years,” says Associate Executive Director Cheri Cimmarrusti. “He’s flown missions with barely a moment’s notice…” 

Rob says it’s hard to truly realize the impact of angel flights until you experience one. “Each trip is a little different, but you always know you’re helping someone in dire need,” he says. “It allows you to volunteer your time in a hands-on way while also donating to the cause.” 

One of Rob’s memorable missions came through a phone call in the middle of the night. An organ had become available, and a transplant patient needed to travel immediately from Riverside to San Francisco. Rob answered the urgent request, and the duo took off at 6 a.m. the next morning, ensuring the patient made it in time to receive their long-awaited transplant. 

In addition to the connections he’s made with passengers, Rob appreciates the friendships he’s developed with staff over the years. “I’ve seen Angel Flight West grow a lot,” he says. “But it’s still the same great organization at heart.” Today, Rob resides in Santa Monica and flies a Piper Malibu Meridian.

As AFW prepares to fly its 100,000^th mission this fall, we’re honored to recognize Rob for his 30+ year commitment to charitable aviation. Thousands of lives have been changed, and will continue to be changed, through donated flights from Rob and our other volunteers.  

The post Volunteer Rob Ross: Prosecutor, Professor, Partner, & Pilot first appeared on Angel Flight West.

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 use my airplane to do something valuable for others,” says Tom.

The extent of his donated flights hasn’t only been invaluable – it’s been priceless. To date, he’s flown more than 300 life-changing missions for passengers to access their far-off treatment, eliminating the geographic and financial barriers that often prevent people from reaching their health care. 

Reflecting on his time with AFW, Tom recalls the days of scheduling missions via phone calls and fax machines. “I quickly got to know the AFW team,” he says. “The technology we have today didn’t exist, and it was fun to be involved early on.” Gone are the days of faxing flight itineraries. Today, to keep up with increased flight requests, AFW’s Mission Operations team coordinates flights through AFW’s online volunteer portal. 

Tom also notes that upgrades in technology have coincided with improvements in health care. He’s watched as advancements have given his passengers more years to their lives. “What the medical community has been able to achieve is impressive,” he says. “And we’ve been able to help in a small way.” 

When speaking of the patients he’s flown, Tom mentions a small angel pin he was given by one of his repeat passengers, Sally, back in 1996. “I stuck the pin on my hat, and it’s been on all my missions since,” he says. “That angel moves from hat to hat. It meant a lot to me.” 

Today, Tom lives in Campbell, Calif. and flies a TBM 850. He still looks for opportunities to use his high-performance jet to fly long-range angel flights. “We’re grateful for the years of service Tom has given to help others,” says AFW Associate Executive Director Cheri Cimmarrusti. “He’s been a tremendous asset to our organization.” 

As AFW prepares to fly its 100,000^th lifetime mission this fall, we’re honored to recognize Tom for his 30-plus-year commitment to charitable aviation. Thousands of lives have been changed, and will continue to be changed, through donated flights from Tom and our other volunteers.  

The post Tom McGrath’s 30-Plus-Year Commitment to Charitable Aviation first appeared on Angel Flight West.

Based in Utah, Ryan considers his state a “service-oriented state and community,” a place where giving back is part of the cultural norm. After joining a local flying club, he learned about Angel Flight West (AFW) from some of their volunteer pilots. Motivated by their enthusiasm for charitable aviation — and by their impactful stories of meaningful missions — Ryan didn’t hesitate to sign up in 2019.

Now, four years later, Ryan has flown 24 lifetime missions in his Cessna 210 Centurion, helping AFW serve a diverse audience through the special types of missions he flies.

Guardian Project Missions

This past summer, Ryan flew veterans back home after their weeklong adventure with the Guardian Project, a therapeutic program in Wyoming for post-9/11 veterans.  “Being able to give a minimal amount of service back to those who have dedicated years of their lives to serving their country is an incredible experience,” says Ryan. “It’s humbling to be able to ease their transportation to healing and recovery.”

The program’s creator and leader, Cpl. Jed Morgan, was one of Ryan’s passengers this year. He says, “The pilots are amazing people. Not only do they use their time and resources to help, but they go above and beyond in how they treat us. It shows the kindness of their hearts.”

Utah Santa Flight

Ryan also signs up for Utah’s Santa Flight, ensuring children from underserved schools receive toys, books, supplies, and warm clothing during the holiday season. Since 2000, AFW’s Santa Flight has been an annual endeavor to support Title I schools in Utah’s rural communities. Ryan has been part of the gift-giving and sing-a-longs that accompany these special missions for the past two years and looks forward to making it a holiday tradition.   

Two Strangers, With Love

During the first two years of COVID, AFW helped deliver necessities to hard-hit communities. By partnering with With Love, From Strangers, our volunteer pilots packed their planes with clothing, PPE, and soap and flew supplies to Native American reservations in the Four Corners region of the Southwest. “I filled my plane with things that, at home, I take for granted,” says Ryan.

Still reflecting on those life-changing flights, Ryan tearfully recalls how COVID greatly affected those communities, with many people lacking basic resources, like access to water for handwashing. “It was nice to be able to play a small role in helping them,” he says.

A Privilege to Fly

Ryan says being a pilot is a privilege, and with that privilege comes the obligation to use his talent and resources for good. “I have a lot of roots in aviation,” he says. “But none of them are as significant to me personally as the ability to serve and give back to the community as an Angel Flight West volunteer pilot.” 

The post A Pilot’s Privilege: Ryan Cowley’s Service to Others first appeared on Angel Flight West.

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 their extended visit and certainly ready to return home.  We got settled into the plane, called for taxi instructions, and were about to depart.

The run-up, as I tell my passengers, is that last check we make before getting airborne since once we’re in flight, things are lot less accessible.  My plane periodically has some roughness during run-up on the left mag since one plug seems is prone to fouling rather commonly, and this time was no exception.  I continued the run-up and then leaned to clear that troublesome plug and thought about my other pre-takeoff tasks.  I again checked the left mag and the roughness persisted this time.  Wash, rinse, repeat.  Still rough.  I could clearly see on my engine monitor that #3 was not firing correctly.

I could also tell that yet another delay would be unwelcomed by my weary travelers, but I decided to terminate the run-up and head back to the maintenance hangars to take a better look.  I had my tools along that day and it was simple to pull the suspect plugs and take a look at them.  Both were only moderately coated in carbon, but I cleaned them and then reinstalled them for what I had hoped would be the last time.  Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be.  We again taxied out to the run-up area and tried again – still rough.  Again, we terminated and taxied back to the hangars.

By now it was getting to be about 5:30 PM so most of the maintenance shops (we have 3 at PAO) were closing for the day.  I parked in front of one and started looking around for someone to help us.  My passengers meanwhile took a leisurely walk back to the terminal to use the bathroom.  I finally found an A&P that was willing to help, but I also took a moment to contact the AFW office to let them know about my situation and to tee up a backup pilot, just in case.  I spoke with the on-call mission coordinator and she said that I would be getting a call back shortly with some options.  I also discussed with my patients possibly delaying our flight until the following AM, just in case.  The kind mechanic who stayed late for us, worked diligently to clean, test and inspect my troublesome plugs while I got a call back from Cheri who was right on top of the situation.  She put out one of her famous All Points Bulletin texts and we soon had a backup pilot (thank you Chris Mather!), ready to take over.  I could not tell you the level of relief this provided after a few stressful hours of uncertainty.

Fortunately, the plugs did behave during our final run-up and the mission was completed without any further incident.  But I cannot tell you how relieved and satisfied I felt flying back home that evening.  It’s an amazing feeling to know that we’re part of such a rewarding and well-run organization as Angel Flight West.  This would be just another example.

The post What Happens When It’s Time to Pull the Ripcord? first appeared on Angel Flight West.

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 Command Pilots.”   

Eric has been an active volunteer pilot since 2020. In the last three months alone, he’s flown an incredible 13 times to help passengers travel to their far-off care, bringing his current lifetime missions to 38.  

Each flight has reinforced Eric’s decision to share his aviation skills and resources with the rest of the world. “My first flight was with a child battling cancer,” Eric recalls. “He’s had an incredibly tough journey, and I had the honor of flying him and his family to his medical appointment and back home.”  

As an owner of a TBM 940 aircraft, Eric often signs up for long-range missions that would typically require one or two stopping points. Just last month, he flew a passenger from Burbank back home to Hamilton, Montana — more than 1,150 miles when traveling by car. Knowing missions with multiple legs can be difficult to fill, Eric looks for missions in which he can combine both legs. “Eric has been invaluable to our mission, always willing to go the extra mile,” says Associate Executive Director Cheri Cimmarrusti. “Just this year, he has flown missions from his home base in Southern California to Boise, ID, Medford, OR, Ogden, UT and Globe, AZ. Our entire team appreciates the contributions he has made, both as a board member and as a volunteer pilot.”  

As a volunteer-driven organization, AFW looks to its board for leadership and guidance in all areas of operations. In his role as a board member, Eric utilizes his business background to serve on the finance and audit committees. 

To the extent they’re able, Eric believes all pilots should include compassion flying in their list of reasons to take to the skies. “Flying is a privilege,” he says. “Once you complete your first mission, it’ll be contagious. AFW is a way for me to serve others, even if I’m only touching their lives in a small way. These passengers do as much for me as I do for them.” 

The post Spotlight on a Board Member: Meet Eric Chadwick first appeared on Angel Flight West.