AFW | New Mexico Wing
| Mission Photo Slideshow
[ gallery ] |
Ready to go, taking great passengers full of questions to the "Home On The Range" adoption event near Santa Fe. Kind of surprised me when they said my Bonanza was "cute." Sue is on the left, 16 Makeyen on the right.
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Mission Spotlight - Angel Flight June 6, 2007
By Neil R. Hise, posted July 22nd, 2007
Everyone was excited about the end of a great Foster Child Adoption event. We were all expecting a typical New Mexico lightly bumpy
potential ride from Santa Fe back to Farmington.
My copilot, Ash Collins, and I had our first inclination that it was not going to turn out that way on our initial 17 minute ride from
Albuquerque to Santa Fe. Just south of the Santa Fe airport about 10 miles we hit a huge “bump”. My airplane is normally fairly stable
in heavy weather, so both of us were surprised. We continued on and landed on Runway 20. Taxing up to the terminal where we were to
pick up one foster child that afternoon, I noticed two pilots standing in the door of a Gulfstream, intently watching the developing storm
we just flew around.
The wind was decidedly picking up, and behind us to the west were some very ominous dark lines of thunder clouds. I knew positively at
that moment, the smaller aircraft were not going to be able to go VFR to Farmington. We had the advantage of looking at uploaded real time
weather on the way to Santa Fe and knew the “red” painted weather was going to be tough.
In the pandemonium of the terminal, where the Angel Flight Leader had just made the decision to scrub the mission, many adults were intently
trying to find a way home. We knew that if we left quickly we could go north and climb high enough to be safe in a non-direct flight line to
Farmington. I indicated to Dan Telfair, Wing Leader that I could take five passengers to Farmington if we left “right now”. Foster Children
and Adults were lined up and chosen; Ash took them out to the plane and loaded them up. I had been busy adding 100 gallons of jet-A to my
airplane, and was paying attention to the tornado that descended to the ground just south of the runway. I grabbed the video camera and shot
a short film of this very unusual event in New Mexico, and scrambled back to the airplane in the ensuing rain.
Ash had all the children strapped in, good and tight, the two adults also. We indicated to our passengers that the ride might get bumpy on
the climb out of Santa Fe. We departed the airport southbound, and a hard right climbing turn soon had us through the bases and into the flight
levels working our way toward Farmington. We ended up with a very smooth ride considering the possibilities. More than once we had to deviate
to stay away from the “hard” weather we were painting. The trip took about ten to twelve minutes longer than a normal straight line flight,
and much of the flight was IMC.
We arrived in Farmington, the children wanting to continue their nap, and the adults ready to head to their respective homes.
Ash and I were “instantly taken” by these three young, wonderful children that were hoping to be placed in a permanent home. Our hearts
went out to the two girls, the youngest practically reaching for our waiting arms while we unloaded them from the airplane. It is moments
like these that will rest in my mind for the remainder of my life.
Ash and I were proud to be a small part in this great event, and we were only disappointed by the fact that the other pilots were stymied
by the unusual NM weather.
Read more great Angel Flight stories on the [ articles ] page.
Resources Announcement - Lions club provides ground transportation for Albuquerque missions
By Dan Telfair, posted May 19th, 2007
Beginning immediately, the Lobo Chapter of the Lions Club will act as Ground Angels for Angel Flight passengers coming into Albuquerque. Ground transportation will be provided between hotels, airfields and medical appointments as needed, plus any other treatment-related travel. This obviously does not include transportation to the local casinos, bars, etc. When possible, ground transportation should be requested at least a day in advance.
If your passengers require transportation as described above, please call:
TONY BANDONI
839-9261
Mr. Bandoni will either provide the transportation himself, or contact another Lions Club volunteer to do so. To avoid potential abuse of the system, please do not share this number with your passengers. Make the call yourself. If your passenger needs further ground transportation, ask that he or she call you, so that you may judge the appropriateness of the request, and then pass it on to Mr. Bandoni.
For additional information, contact Dan Telfair at 505-846-6774 or Dan Telfair.
Read more about resources available to Angel Flight missions under the [ resources ] page.
Please select from the links at left to get information on our Wing Leadership, currently scheduled Wing Events, and so on. Please also feel free to send us any feedback you might have about these pages to the webmaster.
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