Deep In The Heart Of Texas
Angel Flight South
Central has scheduled a Pilot Recruitment drive and Fundraising
event for Saturday June 18th 2005 from 1000 to 1500 at the Lonestar
Executive Airport (CXO) in Conroe, Texas. The event will be held at
the Wing Aviation Complex located on the north side of the airport
and admission is free.
"This event has a threefold purpose," says Gale Tynefield, Angel
Flight's liaison at the Conroe airport. "To create awareness
about the charitable organization among the general public, to
raise funds to further our mission and to recruit pilots to
volunteer their time, skills and resources for this very worthwhile
cause."
Angel Flight volunteer pilots donate their time and aircraft to
provide no-cost transportation to patients who must travel long
distances for specialized medical care.
"With the Medical Center here," Tynefield said, "a large
percentage of the region's flights originate in or are destined for
Houston. These are patients who can't afford the extensive travel,
live in areas not served by the airlines, or whose immune systems
are compromised to the point that public transportation could be
dangerous for them." Tynefield added, "Angel Flight pilots truly
are a Godsend to these patients."
Saturday activities include a Silent Auction, a Bar-b-cue and
Raffle drawings. There will be aircraft displays including
airplanes flown by Angel Flight pilots, Military aircraft,
Corporate aircraft and more. Pilots are encouraged to fly in and
display their aircraft in the static display as well.
The public is invited and encouraged to come lend their support
and learn about this unique organization and to find out how even
non-pilots can participate. One option is providing ground
transportation from airports to treatment centers, and there are
many other support functions that could be done.
There will be aviation oriented equipment and services available
by raffle for pilots and aviation enthusiasts who attend. Pilots
who sign up to be Angel Flight volunteer pilots during the event
will be a entered into a drawing for some very nice "Pilot
get-a-way weekends."
"Of course we'd like as many pilots as possible to join us,"
said Mike Cannon, one of Angel Flight's newly recruited volunteer
pilots. "Doing something that you love to do is great, but doing
something you love to do while benefiting someone in real need is
better."
Cannon added, "I know there are a lot of pilots out there who
could do this and be a such a blessing to someone."