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Angel Flight West
40 years and 100,000 missions by Rich Pickett
LDennis Torres - AFW co-founder and first mission pilot and Rob Ross - 100,000th mission pilot.
uis had liver cancer at a young age, which, thankfully, Coast Air to pick up Luis and his mother, Maria Pérez, for was successfully treated. However, as a result of the this momentous f light — just one of many he has f lown— cancer’s ravages, he needed a liver transplant as well. taking them to Santa Monica (KSMO).
Fortunately for Luis Peña, he found an organ donor, saving his young life. The organ donor’s generosity allowed Luis, now 12, and his mother, Maria, to be the 100,000th mission recipient of Angel Flight West (AFW) on October 30th.
Now, Luis and his family have become frequent AFW fliers. He lives in southern San Diego County, and his medi- cal team is based in Los Angeles. Driving to reach them takes a substantial portion of the day. With both parents working and other family to care for, such frequent drives can take a toll, especially when patients are undergoing treatments. That is where AFW and other public benefit organizations play a significant role – generous volunteer pilots are essential to people like Luis receiving care.
I met with Rob Ross, who flew his Meridian from Santa Monica (KSMO) into the Coast Air Center FBO at Mont- gomery-Gibbs Airport in San Diego (KMYF). Rob was at
4 • TWIN & TURBINE / December 2023
As an AFW Command Pilot for several years and previ- ously volunteering as their Safety Officer, I’ve gotten to know and appreciate all the other critical support staff and volunteers that ensure every mission is a safe success.
Flight missions begin with the patient’s providers re- questing the service. Then, AFW staff work diligently to locate a mission pilot (or multiple pilots, depending on legs and distance). At the same time, Earth Angel volunteers transport patients between the airports and their appoint- ments or lodging. Charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and corporations also provide critical support to make flights like Luis’ possible.
AFW started 40 years ago in Santa Monica when a small group of pilots saw a need to provide medical air transporta- tion when ground transportation wouldn’t suffice—f lying