Safety First
As a reminder, safety and professionalism was covered in AFW's online orientation.
As an AFW Volunteer, you provide a great service for our passengers. You volunteer to provide transportation to medical treatment and for other compelling needs because you want to help others. Along with the desire to help comes the responsibility of ensuring a safe trip. Angel Flight West wants all Command Pilots and Earth Angels to keep safety at the forefront as you plan and execute your missions. With that goal, this section covers some resources to be considered when flying Angel Flight West missions.
Remember, passengers know that they need to have a backup plan, and that we do not guarantee our flights. We encourage you to cancel your flight or trip if you have any concerns about safety.
AFW Safety Team
You can reach out to our volunteer and staff safety team at safety@angelflightwest.org.
AFW Safety Officers
In their volunteer roles, AFW safety officers address any safety issues or concerns that arise. Additionally, safety officers provide educational resources, including articles and webinars, related to general aviation to further promote a culture of safety.
Current safety officers:
Alexios S. - AlexiosS@angelflightwest.org
Bruce P – BruceP@angelflightwest.org
AFW Safety Resources
Safety Town Halls hosted by AFW’s Safety Officers
Safety Articles written by AFW’s Safety Officers
AFW Pilot and Passenger Care Checklist
To ensure every Angel Flight West mission is safe, smooth, and supportive, we've developed a Pilot and Passenger Care Checklist for our volunteer pilots. This guide outlines essential steps to take immediately after being assigned a mission, with detailed sections for before the flight, during, and after.
It also includes thoughtful suggestions to enhance passenger comfort — such as offering light snacks, checking in regularly during the flight, and helping with logistics on the ground. By following this checklist, pilots help uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism while delivering compassionate care to every passenger.
Flight Risk Assessment Tool
Information about the flight risk assessment tool (FRAT) has been included in the orientation and this handbook, and we encourage you to use this resource before each flight. We provide a FRAT in the mobile app, or you may have one you use already. The FRAT is a great way to demonstrate the professionalism described in this topic.
The FRAT in the mobile app is specific to each flight. Find the FRAT for your flight under My Flights and select today’s flight. Provide numerical ratings in each of the categories and tap Save. The system will score your risk factors for this flight. Use this information to help you make your go-no go decision.
Read more about the FRAT tool in this article.
Additional Resources
AOPA Safety Institute
https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/air-safety-institute
https://www.gasafe.org/
FAA
http://www.faasafety.gov
https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/safety-briefing/faa-safety-briefing-fact-sheets