No matter where patients are in their treatment, Angel Flight West (AFW) is honored to offer wings of hope and support. Each day, dedicated volunteer pilots and drivers donate their services to help passengers reach their essential care. We’re continuously inspired by the courage of our passengers, the compassion of our healthcare partners, and the generosity of our volunteers and supporters.

Meet our passenger, Cheryl. Living in Durango, Colo. and diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, she learned that access to health care wasn’t a guarantee. “I had to leave the state and travel to New Mexico to get a scan to even find out if it was cancer,” Cheryl recalls.

In addition to chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she needed six surgeries during her years-long battle. And, to add to the stress, the consistent medical care she needed was 500 miles away at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Phoenix. “You want continuity of care during a cancer diagnosis,” says Cheryl. “You need the same people around you.”

Three years into her battle, AFW Volunteer Pilot Phillip Council flew Cheryl and her husband home after her final surgery. Phillip said, “I had the honor of bringing Cheryl and her husband back to their home after she BEAT cancer! We had a wonderful flight, and it couldn’t have been a better day to fly.”

Cheryl couldn’t agree more, saying, “Phil was such a nice guy and we had a blast going home! That day was the best day in so many ways!” She goes on to recognize volunteer pilots Kerry MacPherson and Patrick McClure for her earlier angel flights. “I trusted them all to take me where I needed to be,” she says.

Now, Cheryl is eager to share her AFW experience with other patients in need of donated flight services. “The volunteer pilots are caring and friendly,” she says. “Know that you’re worth it, and your life is worth it.”

You can learn more about requesting a flight by calling (310) 390-2958 or by visiting angelflightwest.org/need-a-flight.

The post National Cancer Survivors Day: Meet AFW Passenger Cheryl first appeared on Angel Flight West.

All dressed up, linking arms with my beautiful grandsons, and anticipating a fun evening, we were excited to meet some of the passengers you all so generously transport and to pay tribute to those who contribute to volunteer pilot organizations. 

It was a treat to hear Harrison Ford share his special and heartfelt memories of Dr. Randy Sherman as he presented the Inspiration Award to Dr. Sherman’s son, Max.  As a part of this award, Angel Flight West created the Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund, which will provide resources for the Mission Operations Team to purchase commercial tickets to back-up our pilot flown missions when weather or the availability of a pilot is a concern.  Our sincere thanks to Dr. Sherman’s family for this special fund.

Longtime AFW supporter and volunteer Cyrus Sigari presented Ross Perot, Jr., with the Inspiration Award for his dedication to philanthropy and aviation. It was an honor to hear about Ross Perot, Jr. and Hill Air’s commitment to our service members and first responders and how they’ve used aviation to bring some peace to families and friends of the fallen after tragedies.

Spending time with our passengers, Gloria and Corina, Ayden, Ayden (yep – there were two of them!), and Bradley and Luis was an affirmation of the need for Angel Flight West and how important you, our volunteers, are to their well-being.  It was exciting to have Sling Academy offer to give 13-year-old Luis flying lessons.  Luis was our 100,000^th Mission passenger and has been flying with us for seven years.  He has been saying for many years he wants to be a pilot. Thanks, Sling Academy!

I enjoyed seeing PALS volunteer pilot John Rochelle receive his Endeavor Award, presented to him by his passenger Olivia for his dedication and generosity.  I’ve known John for many years, and it was so nice to see him receive this award.  I know John was also honored to meet our guest astronauts and have his picture taken with them.

For me, the special award of the night was the one I presented to Arizona Command Pilot Dennis Phelan for his generosity and heart.  Dennis has completed over 900 missions and has driven Earth Angel trips more than 250 times.  He always goes above and beyond, and his ability to do so with such grace is something special to witness.  Honoring pilots like Dennis is such an important part of this spectacular evening.  Congratulations to Dennis on this special award. 

The combination of all these amazing events with the raising of more than $850,000 made it a win-win for all involved.  It was so fun to spotlight the achievements of the volunteers who are the lifeblood of this and other VPOs! 

Blue Skies and Ciao! 
Cheri

The post From Cheri’s Desk: A Recap of the Endeavor Awards first appeared on Angel Flight West.

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.

Vince Mickens is the Founder and CEO of Private Air Media Group and a passionate aviation advocate, spearheading philanthropic support of general and business aviation. A U.S. Navy veteran, he spent nearly three decades as a broadcast journalist in radio and television and has served in various positions with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation, and Top Flight Media. A licensed pilot, Vince has flown more than two dozen types of aircraft and has been instrumental in honoring and promoting the Tuskegee Airmen pilots’ legacy.

Welcome to the board, Vince!

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

Well, you say, what does that have to do with our general aviation flying? We might all be tempted to skip this article and go on with our day… Not so fast! Could this apply to us as well? As a concept, I would emphatically say, YES! I believe that if the FAA had to raise the warning flag to professional crews and pilots, it might be worthy of our attention as well. Here are some basic definitions from the AC:

“2.1 General. For the purpose of this AC, the meaning of FPM is the planning, execution, and assurance of the guidance and control of aircraft trajectory and energy, in flight or on the ground. “Flightpath” means trajectory (lateral, longitudinal, and vertical) and energy state of the aircraft. “Flightpath” includes “ground path” if the aircraft is in motion on the ground.

2.1.1 Ensuring that the aircraft is on a safe and correct flightpath is the highest priority of all pilots on the flightcrew. Ensuring the airplane is on the correct flightpath includes the actions necessary to check/verify that the flightpath is correct and to intervene as necessary if it is not correct.

2.1.2 Each pilot is responsible for: • Being fully aware of the current and desired flightpath of the aircraft, and • Being fully capable of manually flying the aircraft to achieve the desired flightpath.”

I think we can all agree that Loss of Control (LOC) has been, and remains as one of the leading causes of General Aviation incidents/accidents. But what could be a leading root cause of Loss of Control and therefore the loss of Flight Path Management? Distractions! There will always be distractions, however, what is most important is how we handle those distractions. Bruce wrote an article in July of 2023 regarding distractions. https://angelflightwest.org/news/july-safety-update/

However, I would like to address this subject under the “umbrella” of Threat and Error Management (TEM) as well. https://angelflightwest.org/news/april-2023-safety-report/

Distractions as Threats. In aviation we have a multitude of Threats that we face daily that are actually beyond our control, such as, ATC, weather, complex airspace, complex clearances, complex obstacle departures and complex approaches, to name a few. To illustrate, let’s draw a circle shape and list those Threats in there. In the center of the circle we have the one and only thing that we actually can control, OURSELVES! In the space between ourselves and the outer circle with all the exterior Threats, that we cannot control, we actually have a zone of INFLUENCE. The things that we can do to influence the Threats=Distractions that we have no control over. By controlling ourselves, we can influence the factors that we cannot control. So, when does a distraction (Threat) become an Error? When we are indeed distracted by a distraction. Now we need to find a way to repair that Error so that we can return to Safe Operations.

Methods for influencing exterior Threats = Distractions:

Knowledge. How well do we know our airplane, or VFR/IFR procedures? Do we study regularly? If we are faced with a distraction of a complex re-route clearance for example, involving new airways etc, the best way to mitigate this distraction/Threat from becoming an Error is to know our navigation system well and to feel comfortable with its operation. That requires preparation, study and practice. If we feel that we are weak in certain areas, we should commit to addressing them.

Skill-set. As you all know, knowledge alone does not make us perform good short field landings, or good ILS approaches, etc. Skill-sets require practice and training. How often do we get training to humble ourselves and to re-learn or practice certain skills? How often do we chair-fly maneuvers to effectively “trick” our brains with visualization in order to improve our skill-set? Again, only we know our weak areas, so it is incumbent among all of us to practice and train those skills and also receive instruction so that we can potentially discover areas that we didn’t even realize that we are weak on.

Limit multitasking. Multitasking….we all do it. But in actuality that is not what we are doing. Instead, we are simply dividing our attention between multiple tasks. We can’t do multiple things at the same time. What we do is multiple things, not as effectively. For example, I frequently eat when I watch TV. Therefore, I don’t eat as well, nor watch TV with attentiveness. Is that the end of the world? Of course not. But what about if we are single pilot and we are doing a checklist, or programing our navigation system while we are taxiing? We are not taxiing with attentiveness, nor are we performing the other task with full attention. We must resist this temptation, take the time to be single minded and one-pointed in our tasks and we will be far more equipped to influence the inevitable distractions/Threats.

Physiology. When we are distracted, our body typically responds in the same fashion as when we are startled. For example, loss of focus, tunnel vision, potential flight response, etc. One technique that I use quite frequently when I am flying and I have found very effective is Tactical Breathing and vision control. 4 second inhalation, hold breath for 4 seconds and exhale for at least 4 seconds. It reengages your parasympathetic nervous system and ultimately your focus and attention. Then a slow, methodical movement of our head, looking right, center and left. This opens our focus and mitigates tunnel vision. This all sounds simple, yet it is extremely effective. Both the military and the airlines teach these simple methods to their pilots. Give them a try!

Flying is fun, we are all passionate about it and the volunteer work that you all do for Angel Flight West is priceless. But, when we show up to go fly, are we ready for our worst day?

Remember, we will not “rise to the occasion”. Instead, we will “fail” to the level of our knowledge and training.

Thank you kindly for your attention and wishing you all a safe and good summer.

In safety,

Alexi Stavropoulos
AFW Safety Officer
AlexiosS@angelflightwest.org

The post May Safety Update: Managing Our Flight Path and Distractions first appeared on Angel Flight West.

My name is Yohana and I’ve been working at Angel Flight West (AFW) as the spring Communications and Marketing Intern since last December (2023). My journey with AFW has truly been an enriching experience, allowing me to grow personally and professionally, while gaining insights on the intricate efforts that AFW undertakes to make a difference in people’s lives. 

Stepping into the world of nonprofit work has been a new and exhilarating experience for me. As a sophomore studying Marketing and Graphic Design at the University of Maryland, delving into this new field was uncharted territory. Prior to this internship, I had not fully grasped the complexity of the communications efforts behind an organization like AFW. It has been both enlightening and exciting to witness the dedication and passion that drives every aspect of AFW’s mission. 

I particularly enjoyed reviewing mission photos and crafting volunteer spotlights during my time at AFW. This opportunity allowed me to immerse myself in the storytelling aspect of marketing, where I could highlight the incredible individuals and passenger stories behind the organization. As I worked on different tasks, not only did my design skills improve, but I also developed a deeper appreciation for the invaluable contributions made by everyone involved with AFW. And, I must admit, the most enjoyable part of it all was reviewing the impactful photos sent in by volunteers! 

Witnessing firsthand the team’s dedication and passion towards their mission was inspiring, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a caring and supportive community. AFW isn’t just an organization; it’s a family that deeply values the well-being of its passengers, volunteers, and team working behind the scenes to make everything possible. 

As I close out my internship with AFW, I am filled with gratitude for the invaluable perspectives and experiences I’ve gained. Beyond the professional growth, it’s the shared moments of empathy and sincerity within this remarkable community that I will always treasure.  

Thank you, Angel Flight West, for giving me the opportunity to go on this unforgettable journey. It has been an honor to work alongside such a dedicated and amazing team! 

The post Intern Reflection: Meet Yohana first appeared on Angel Flight West.

Your gift ensures veterans can access these crucial services as they strive for healing and recovery.

Meet our passenger Gloria, a veteran and passenger who flew home from the Guardian Project with AFW this past fall. Gloria says, “As a disabled veteran, I never thought I’d find myself in a privately owned plane. I can’t tell you how cool it was to peer down at the Red Rocks from up above, and I loved having a retired A-10 pilot to share Air Force memories with during my journey.

“The trip came right after the sudden and tragic loss of one of my dearest friends, and I showed up at the camp in a devastated and underweight state. It was amazing to have the women at the retreat give me a solid place to land, physically and emotionally, especially since the retreat took place right between my departed friend’s two memorials. And then there was the river — which I desperately needed — that was a source of healing for me.” From her journey through the skies to her time by the water, the elements came together to bring Gloria some of the peace she needed. Today, she’s grateful for the vital encouragement she received — and she wants to help other veterans find hope again. “I can’t tell you how important this trip was in getting me through an impossible time,” she says.

“As disabled veterans, we need these programs in our lives. We deal with a lot of grief and loss. Resources like these, with special opportunities like a private flight… that saves lives.”

Gloria was invited by the Guardian Project to undergo trip leader training this year and plans to return to assist military members as they make the often-difficult transition to civilian life. “I hope to bring more women veterans into the program in the future,” she says.

Your gift makes missions like these possible. Please donate today to help Veterans reach these essential, life-saving services.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

The post Gloria’s Journey: Hope and Healing for Veterans first appeared on Angel Flight West.

While many children are patiently awaiting the thrill of summer camp season, some of AFW’s young passengers are getting a head start on visiting their homes away from home.

Fifteen-year-old Zoraya is one of those early travelers. She was excited about returning to Camp Korey in Mount Vernon, Wash. for her fourth year at the year-round camp for children and their families living with life-altering medical conditions. This past February, AFW Command Pilot Richard Beattie flew Zoraya to her first Teen Leadership Retreat, giving Zoraya an opportunity to bond with friends while learning skills to support this summer’s younger campers.

Each year, Angel Flight West flies hundreds of missions to ensure children navigating life-altering or life-threatening illnesses can reach specialty programs. In 2023, our volunteer pilots flew 272 flights to and from 41 camp destinations, giving each child an unforgettable journey.

Now, we need your help to fly children like Zoraya to their long-awaited camps again this summer.

For many kids, the summer program where they’ll feel most accepted can be hundreds of miles away from home. Zoraya’s mom Jennifer knows that experience, saying, “I’m a single parent. To take time off work to make that long trip is really difficult. Having AFW’s help to get Zoraya there so she can still participate is unbelievable.”

For Zoraya, camp has given her the tools she needs to build courage and confidence. “Camp teaches me to be myself,” she says.

Help AFW arrange camp flights this year by making a gift today.

The post Finding Friendship and Acceptance at Summer Camp: Meet Zoraya first appeared on Angel Flight West.

We dedicate this fund in loving memory of Dr. Randy Sherman, our trailblazing leader and friend, to further his vision for access to health care for all.

Dr. Sherman was an inspirational force in the aviation and healthcare communities. He joined Angel Flight West as a volunteer 10 years ago and served as an amazing advocate, mentor, and champion for our cause. The care he showed his patients, combined with his passion for flying, made him a tremendous asset to Angel Flight West.

We’re proud to announce the Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund in honor of his unwavering dedication to healthcare accessibility for all. Dr. Sherman’s profound commitment to our mission resonates deeply with us, and this renaming serves as a tribute to his legacy of compassion and advocacy.

The Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund will continue to provide vital travel resources and assistance to individuals in need, ensuring that no patient is denied essential transportation to medical care due to financial barriers.

Join us in honoring Dr. Sherman’s remarkable legacy by supporting this fund and helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.

Honoring Dr. Randy Sherman at the 10th Annual Endeavor Awards

Dr. Sherman will be honored posthumously at the 10th Annual Endeavor Awards in Los Angeles on May 10. Proceeds from the event benefit Angel Flight West and the passengers we serve. If you’re not able to join us, please consider making a donation to the Dr. Randy Sherman All Access Fund.

The post Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund first appeared on Angel Flight West.

AFW’s passenger Cammy knows that experience well.  

Five years ago, Cammy’s medical team found a tumor in her brain, an overwhelming diagnosis that has also impacted her ability to travel. When she recently found out she needed to have an essential surgery in Phoenix, more than 700 miles away from her home in Westcliffe, Colo, a friend of hers suggested she call Angel Flight West (AFW).  

Enter AFW’s dedicated volunteer pilots — Sean Bishop, Scott Gustafson, Eric Ecklund, Michael Saperton, Robert Hull, and Michael Kormos — who answered the call to help Cammy on her journey to health.  

Living in rural Colorado, the nearest commercial airport to Cammy is nearly 150 miles away. “That can be a six-hour roundtrip or more depending on traffic,” she says. AFW’s team of volunteer pilots were able to fly Cammy to and from her small town on two separate occasions, making an already stressful life event more manageable.  
 
One of those heroes was Command Pilot Sean Bishop, who flew Cammy home just three days after her major brain surgery in March. While Sean was initially only meant to fly one of two mission legs to help Cammy return home, flight plans changed mid-air. Without hesitation, Sean created a new flight plan, and safely flew Cammy the entire distance from Phoenix to the comfort of home.  

Cammy says, “I am overcome with gratitude for Sean’s generosity and for him going above and beyond. Sean was also one of my pilots the first time I flew with Angel Flight West. There are some people who truly make the world a better place, and Sean is one of them.”  
 
As for Sean, he’s humbled to have the opportunity to use his talents and resources to make a difference. Speaking to Cammy, he says, “I really enjoyed having a small role in your life and am completely honored to serve you in this way.” 

As for us? We’re grateful to be part of the charitable aviation community, witnessing the strength in passengers like Cammy and the unparalleled kindness of volunteer pilots like Sean. 

Check out Cammy’s newspaper article here!

The post When Medical Care is Miles Away: Meet Cammy 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.

An inspirational force in aviation and healthcare communities, Angel Flight West is pleased to announce that Dr. Randy Sherman will be honored (posthumously) at the 10^th Annual Endeavor Awards in Los Angeles on May 10, 2024. The award will be presented by Actor Harrison Ford and accepted by Sherman’s son Max.

“Randy understood the intersections of aviation and healthcare better than anyone,” says AFW Executive Director Josh Olson. “He helped lead AFW to grow to meet the patient need for access to care. We’re honored to carry on our friend and colleague’s legacy at this year’s Endeavor Awards.”

In addition to most recently serving as director of the Cedars-Sinai Division of Plastic Surgery and Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Dr. Sherman volunteered his time and talent with Smile Train and Operational Smile, providing pro bono medical services to people in need. He joined Angel Flight West as a volunteer 10 years ago and served as an amazing advocate, mentor, and champion for the organization’s cause.

“My dad and Harrison Ford shared a love which every pilot can appreciate” says Randy’s son Max. “The horizon, but more importantly, they were both incredibly aware of the duty that comes with seeing it, Their friendship was forged in using their wings to help their fellow man soar.”

Well known for his acting career, Harrison Ford is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. In March 2004, Ford became the chair of Young Eagles, a program offered by the Experimental Aircraft Association to interest young people in aviation.  He remained in the position for five years, flying more than 280 children in his DHC-2 Beaver.

Ford is an honorary board member of the humanitarian aviation organization, Wings of Hope. In 2010, he flew his Cessna 208 Caravan to Hinche, Haiti with Dr. Sherman to command an airlift of Operation Smile medical volunteers and supplies to provide needed treatment for earthquake victims.

About the Endeavor Awards

Hosted by Angel Flight West, the annual Endeavor Awards® gala celebrates and honors volunteer pilots and provides charitable support to the organizations that coordinate their gifts of flight to serve those in need. Every year thousands of donated flights save lives, provide access to medical care, transport veterans, rescue animals, map environmental data, aid in disaster relief and contribute to the public good in communities nationwide.

More Information

Aviation advocate and businessman Ross Perot Jr. will receive the Inspiration Award at this year’s event, recognizing his long-standing support of our nation’s first responders, veterans, and military personnel. Volunteer pilots Dennis M. Phelan of Angel Flight West and John Rochelle of PALS SkyHope will receive the Endeavor Award, recognizing their dedication to donating flights to serve people in need.

To learn more about supporting or attending the Endeavor Awards on May 10, 2024 visit www.endeavorawards.org or contact Mary Hunter at maryh@angelflightwest.org.

To donate to the Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All fund, visit https://angelflightwest.org/drshermanfund.

The post Special Guest Harrison Ford to Attend 10th Annual Endeavor Awards 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.

In August of 2023, Elijah and his mom received their first gifted flight to Palo Alto, Calif. for the critical procedure. Judith recalls how professional and kind AFW Command Pilot Jerald Molleston was during their journey through the skies. Five months later, and after a successful transplant, Elijah and Judith were finally discharged and able to fly back home to Ontario, Calif.

Although Elijah was nervous during his first angel flight, he knew what to expect for their flight home. Volunteer pilot, Ben Pahlavan, also made an impression on the now ten-year-old boy, giving Elijah the special opportunity to be his trusted co-pilot. “We can all name the people in our lives who made a lasting impression,” Judith says, “and Ben made a lasting impression on Elijah.”

Today, Elijah is doing well after his bone marrow transplant, and he wants to be a pilot just like Jerald and Ben.

“The hard part is over,” says Judith. “We’re so happy to be home.”

The post From Angel Flights to Recovery: Meet Elijah 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.