From our Team: Reflecting on Flights of Joy January 24, 2024 AFW Associate Executive Director Cheri Cimmarrusti reflects on this past year’s Flights of Joy. Flights of Joy in Arizona Flights of Joy in Wyoming Flights of Joy in Montana For the fourth year in a row, 2023 brought us Flights of Joy. In 2020, with our missions reduced significantly due to the ongoing pandemic, we were looking for a way to get our pilots flying in a way that was safe for everyone involved. A… Cheri Cimmarrusti Read More »
Volunteer Pilots Remember AFW Passenger Elliot January 19, 2024 Angel Flight West was built on relationships, and that foundation is what has kept our passengers at the heart of our mission for more than forty years. When our volunteer pilots sign up to donate a flight, they aren’t only signing up to experience the joy of flying — they’re signing up to invest their time and energy in another person, a new friend. Our passenger Elliot was one of those friends, both to volu… Jessica Hayes Read More »
January Safety Update – NASA ASRS Program – Aviation Safety Reporting System January 19, 2024 In this edition’s safety report I would like to discuss the NASA ASRS Program – Aviation Safety Reporting System. There is an abundance of information online regarding this program, yet I wanted to touch upon some of the highlights. Most airlines have an in-house safety reporting process. Most often, the in-house reporting program also simultaneously files a NASA ASRS report. I worked very closely w… Safety Officers Read More »
Meet AFW’s Newest Board Member, Richard Beattie January 19, 2024 We’re thrilled to introduce AFW’s newest board member, Richard Beattie! 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 recreatio… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Wingspan: Announcing New Wing Leaders in UT, AZ, WA, and NV. January 19, 2024 We’re thrilled to announce new wing leaders in four states, including Lou Rossi (Utah), Alan Underwood (Arizona), Shawn Linch (Nevada), and Ricardo Lagos (Washington). Additionally, we’re excited to share that Dave Lombard will take on the role of area leader for Central California. We also share our gratitude and thanks to our outgoing wing leaders, including Steve Bollinger (Utah), Tim Barrios (Arizo… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Principal’s Reflection: Utah’s Santa Flight January 9, 2024 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 Sa… Jessica Hayes Read More »
LaMonte’s Battle with Leukemia December 28, 2023 Last year, before his second birthday, LaMonte was diagnosed with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The family lives in Billings, Mont., but the devastating diagnosis meant his family had to spend nearly 11 months in Colorado for LaMonte’s treatment. “Because it’s such a rare form of leukemia, he’s required more treatment than other patients,” says LaMonte’s mother MaKenna. Now, while the family i… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet Colter: Agent of Chaos December 28, 2023 Those who know him best describe two-year-old Colter as a mischievous and hilarious, “agent of chaos”. He is the youngest of three boys, but his older brothers still wait on him hand and foot. Despite his childhood cancer diagnosis, he’s full of life and energy. Colter was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma at just 18 months old. Shortly after, the family was referred to a specialist in Se… afw_web_admin Read More »
Angel Flight West Celebrates 100,000 Missions Flown November 17, 2023 AFW’s passenger Luis, on the second leg of the 100,000th mission – Photo courtesy of McCall Jones/American Aviation News Angel Flight West (AFW) recently celebrated its 100,000th mission, a remarkable milestone in its 40-year history of providing no-cost, non-emergency air travel services. AFW connects volunteer pilots with people needing medical care and other dire needs. AFW’s decade… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Veteran Gets His Voice November 16, 2023 Command Pilot Mark Donnelly flew Bill and his wife home after Bill’s reconstructive surgery. On Friday November 10, Army veteran William “Bill” Shammy will leave the VA Hospital in Palo Alto with something he hasn’t had in 10 years: a voice. Bill lost his voice to throat cancer when doctors had to remove his larynx. Now he’s undergoing reconstructive surgery. With his wife Matilda, he’ll fly home to Esp… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet Marlene: Driving Passengers the Last Mile to Care November 16, 2023 Marlene with Romero, a passenger she drives to treatment regularly 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… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Stetson’s Story: How Volunteer Pilots Aid in His Battle Against NF1 November 6, 2023 Stetson prepares for his AFW flight home after his care at Logan Health Children’s in Salt Lake City, UT. As a middle child, eight-year-old Stetson has two siblings he loves fiercely — his 10-year-old brother Maverick and his six-year-old sister Wren. His contagious smile is captured in nearly all his photos, including those of him in hospital beds surrounded by medical equipment and beeping monitors.&nbs… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Staff Spotlight on Volunteer Services Manager Troy Troxel October 17, 2023 AFW Volunteer Services Manager, Troy Troxel, with his wife Alison and their three children. Q + A Could you tell us a bit about yourself? I was born and raised in Southern California and still reside here in Oceanside. I grew up surfing and golfing. I am a private pilot with about 250 hours total time. I am married to my best friend Alison, and we have three kids (Reid 10, Archer 8, and Lola 6) as well as a dog named Ziggy and two… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight on a Board Member: Meet Hans Fuegi October 17, 2023 A native of Switzerland who emigrated to the Western United States in 1979, Hans Fuegi’s interest in aviation started when he was just a kid. As a real estate, development and hospitality professional, Hans found himself owning a business in California but residing in Park City, Utah. For a born adventurer and successful restauranteur, that seemed the perfect time to learn how to fly. Hans took Evan, a membe… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Marcie Smith’s Aviation Journey: From NASA to AFW October 17, 2023 Francisco and his companion were able to get to Francisco’s care at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital with Marcie as their AFW pilot. 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 stu… Jessica Hayes Read More »
