Our April meeting was relocated to the Museum of Flying due to an event in Barker Hangar, and what a treat! We had a room for our half hour social, a screening room for the presentation from Angel Flight, and a boardroom for our meeting. The boardroom was complete with Douglas Aircraft memorabilia including his executive chair and boardroom table!

We had a fantastic Tech Talk from Angel Flight West who gave us an overview of how they help people in need of non-emergency medical transport with a team of volunteer pilots and drivers, commercial airline partners, etc.

It was an inspiration to meet Rachel Beuttler, one of the patients, who has become a regular passenger and would not have been able to get the same kind of care without their help. Her story was very touching and we appreciate her courage to come share it with us. Steve, a pilot who has flown thousands of missions, had a number of uplifting stories about his passengers and some of the joy he’s helped them achieve through missions. And Margot, one of their best drivers, shared her experiences and gave a shout out to the coordinators at the office who work tirelessly to make sure these patients have a ride, and back-up plans.

We learned that the company is very efficient ($1 donated is matched with $7 of in-kind donations from pilots and drivers), and they have a great safety record. Angel Flight is certainly a great option if you want to donate your pilot skills for a good cause! For more information on getting involved with Angel Flight West and volunteer/donation opportunities, please visit their website.

 

Our meeting was blessed with two visitors from the San Fernando Valley chapter, as well as Judi Barker, owner of Barker Hangar. We appreciate their wisdom and expertise as we discussed upcoming events around the airport and our plans to repaint the airport’s compass rose. We are excited to announce Brittney Garza, who was appointed as Fly-In Chair. Vanessa Gibson has volunteered to be Tech Talk Chair, a perfect role considering she’s so well-connected around the airport!

 

A belated congratulatory gift was in order for Eve Lopez, who earned her Sport Pilot License last month. We are so proud of another official pilot in our ranks!

 

 

Special Thanks to Dan Ryan and the Museum of Flying, who stayed late to keep the Museum open just for our meeting and let us use the boardroom and theater. Thanks, as always, to Vanessa Gibson for providing cookies, drinks and festive decor! And a BIG Thank You to our special guests from Angel Flight West for sharing their stories with us.