Announcements

Promotions at Angel Flight West

As Angel Flight West, Inc. continues to grow into its second quarter century of arranging free air transportation for non-emergency medical and other compelling human needs I am pleased to announce the following promotions:
 
Cheri Cimmarrusti to the newly created position of Associate Executive Director.  In this newly created position, the Associate Executive Director will be responsible for Mission Operations, Wing Operations, Pilot/Passenger/Provider Outreach and Public Relations. This position will focus closely on the numerous daily challenges necessary to accomplish the mission of AFW allowing the Executive Director to focus on administrative functions with an emphasis on fund development.  The position supervises the Director of Mission Operations, the Outreach Associate and works closely with Wing Leaders and their teams.
 
With thirteen years experience as a Mission Coordinator and Director of Mission Operations, this position recognizes the contributions Cheri has made to the organization and formalizes her responsibility for several of the areas she has already been significantly impacting.
 
Josh Olson to the position of Director of Mission Operations:  For the past several years Josh has been working closely with Cheri as Assistant Director of Mission Operations.  He will bring this experience to the position of Director and is the ideal choice to assume the Director's responsibilities.  In this position he will have responsibility for and manage the arrangement of all missions and related tasks.  Mission Coordinators will report to Josh.
 
Please join me in congratulating Cheri and Josh and wishing them success in their new positions. 

Alan M. Dias 

Angel Flight West, Inc.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WWW.ANGELFLIGHTWEST.ORG

 

With Help from Alaska Airlines, Angel Flight West is Bringing Support to Haiti 

Angel Flight West is proud to partner with Alaska Airlines in helping provide assistance to the people of Haiti following the destructive earthquake.  Alaska Airlines has donated millions of miles to AFW for use in transporting relief workers and those needing to get out of Haiti. 

Our many thanks to Alaska Airlines for not only its generous donation of two million miles into our mileage account to help provide flights for relief teams and/or families needing to get loved ones out of Haiti, but for their financial support in assisting with the necessary fees and taxes for booking mileage flights.  However one of the most rewarding aspects has been working with the team at Alaska-they have been incredible.  They have truly shown their Alaska Spirit in what they call North of Expected. 

Anthoinine, 9 yrs. , Gaspard, 11 yrs.

Due to this program, as of February 2, 2010, AFW has been able to assist 55 people, either in teams of medical personnel, aid workers going to Haiti for six months or in two cases, to bring home adoptive children who have been waiting for years and are now being brought home because of this tragedy.  We have used 1,900,000 of the original two million miles, but those will soon be replaced by another donation.  In addition, we have had thousands of miles donated by our campaign through our e-mail signatures, an e-mail to members and Facebook.  Most of us have watched TV and read about this so much, but there is something about hearing stories that we have had a direct impact on that is so moving.

Our first flights were for a group of 11 medical personnel going from Denver to Miami, where they boarded a missionary flight into Port-au-Prince.  Their photos are on the front page.  Here is an excerpt from their blog after their first day treating patients:

Medical Team Flown with the Help of Alaska Airlines

We hit the ground running. We tried to have some of our crew unpack, but pretty soon we were all working. Patrick started right away on triage, and pretty quickly found several patients in trouble. We have several patients with bad infections. One 12 year old girl was buried for quite some time and is now septic. We are doing everything we can for her right now. Thank goodness for the antibiotics.

Patrick also quickly found 2 patients who needed surgery. One 26 year old man had a very deep stab wound in his shoulder due to fighting over food. By surgery, we mean what we can do on the dining room table. The innovation of the day would be figuring out how to have suction. Take the hand pump mechanism out of a Purell bottle, stick the bottom in the wound and pump like mad.

If that doesn't bring it home, I don't know what does!  On a slightly more upbeat note, the flights for adoptive kids are heartwarming and will make a lifetime of difference for these orphans. Angel Flight West will of course only will assist with legal adoptions of children that are legally immigrating to the United States.

One such flight was for a mom and dad flying from Seattle to Miami, where they picked up their 2 children they have been waiting to adopt for NINE years! 

Top Row: Tadd, Charity, Middle Row: Gaspard, 11 yrs. , Anthoinine, 9 yrs., Kenya, 8 yrs., Front: Elijah, 6 yrs.

Due to many snafus and much red tape, this created delay after delay. That changed with the earthquake. The family photo shown was taken last year when they spent a week in Haiti with the kids at a hotel helping them and their biological children bond. 

Once again, thanks to Alaska Airlines and their team for their continued support.  If you would like to donate miles to continue our efforts please click here...   

 

 

 Angel Flight West Flies Their 40,000th Mission

Angel Flight West flew their 40,000th mission on June 20th 2009!  Since 1983, Angel Flight West has become one of the country's largest volunteer pilot organizations providing free air transportation for non-emergency health care issues through the 13 western states. "We are proud to hit this significant milestone today", says Alan Dias Executive Director of AFW. "The combination of our volunteer pilots, members and hard working staff help contribute to the success of our organization."

Rotary International President, Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee, Made Life Member of Angel Flight West

Alan Dias, Executive Director of Angel Flight West (AFW), presented the President of Rotary International, D.K. Lee and his wife, Young Lee with life time AFW membership.  In early June, Mr. Lee visited AFW's Santa Monica offices to meet Mr. Dias and the other AFW staff to learn about the Earth Angel Program, a partnership between the Santa Monica and Westwood Rotaries and AFW.  Mr. Dias is a Rotarian and a Director of the Los Angeles Rotary Club (LA5).

Angel Flight West holds 3rd Annual Fly-In Day at Harris Ranch 

On June 7th, more than 100 Angel Flight West Northern and Southern California members and guests in 45 planes flew into Harris Ranch in Coalinga, California for the 3rd Annual North meets South Fly-In Day.   Attendees lunched in the garden ballroom and heard from informative guest speakers, including Alan Dias, Executive Director of AFW, and George Morse, AFW member and head of Failure Analysis Service Technology, Inc.  Mr. Morse discussed accident investigations involving airframe part failures, and bird strikes on aircrafts.

Angel Flight West and Civil Air Patrol Join Forces

Two volunteer pilot organizations, Angel Flight West and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), are joining forces to help provide free air transportation for non-emergency healthcare and other compelling human needs.  CAP pilots who are also AFW Members, will use CAP planes to assist the Oregon wing with AFW missions.  CAP serves as the official auxiliary to the United States Air Force, and in addition to AFW missions', CAP provides assistance with search and rescue, disaster relief and aerospace education.