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For over 29 years, we've been coordinating free air transportation for 
children and adults with medical or compelling humanitarian needs
 
    
2012 Healthcare for Heroes award winner
2012 Healthcare Champions award winner
 
Weekly Update April 12, 2012
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Upcoming Events  

Tampa Bay Aviation Association 3rd Annual Safety Day

Wednesday April 17, 2013 from 7:45 AM to 4:00 PM EDT

Angel Flight CEO Steve Purello will be speaking at this well-regarded event. A La Carte Event Pavilion 4050 Dana Shores Drive, Tampa

A La Carte Event Pavilion

 

Islands Fest

Saturday April 20, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT

Islands Fest is a yearly event where the residents and businesses of Davis Islands (along with its South Tampa neighbors) come together to celebrate a day of unity, community interaction and family fun

Peter O'Knight Airport

 

Planes, Trains & BBQ

Saturday April 27, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EDT

Air Show, Seaplane rides, train rides, state sanctioned BBQ competition, car show and musical entertainment throughout the day. Our charity has been once again chosen by the City of Tavares as the exclusive drink vendor for the event!

Wooton Park, Tavares, FL

 

Coast Guard Open House/Operation SAFEE

Friday May 3, 2013 at 9:00 AM EDT -to- Saturday May 4, 2013 at 3:00 PM EDT

Learn about the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement. Come see military and law enforcement aircraft. Operations SAFEE flight is the South Florida Aviators aircraft fly-in and education expo. There will be aircraft displays, exhibits and contests.

Opa-Locka Airport

 

Nathaniel's Hope Makem Smile June 1, 2013

Saturday June 1, 2013 from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM EDT

Makem Smile is a community festival that celebrates kids with special needs (VIP kids) and their families and features a Buddy Stroll around Lake Eola. Enjoy free food, entertainment, prizes, and a chance to visit exhibitors that service the special needs community. This event is FREE of charge and happens RAIN OR SHINE!

Lake Eola in Downtown Orlando

 

 

 

 

For more information on our monthly meetings, call the office at 

(352) 326-0761

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Great run at Orlando Executive Airport!

Special thanks to
All of our runners
David Maus Volkswagon
Enterprise rent a car 
Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Aflac
Showalter Flying Service
Sheltair
Tanya L. Burns & Associates
Hunter Vision Center
Track Shack
Laughing Rhino Events
Iron Revenge
Orlando Sherriff's Department
Civil Air Patrol
Sports 'N' Stuff
Del-Dio's
 
Our Volunteers and committee
Rusty Fleming
Kevin McNamara
Mary Maher
Summer Swinehart
Dani Guillermo
Suzie Salyers
Mikko Huttenen
Claudine Copeland
Lori Zagorski
...and many others!
 
The winners!!
First Place Mens - Kyle Daily
First Place Womens' - Lynn Klann
Second Place Mens - Sami Teittinen
Second Place Womens' - Katarina Teittinen
Third Place Mens - Bryce Courtney
Third Place Womens' - Judith-Ann Jarrette

Anyway, Thank you very much for making this event bigger and better each year. 2014 is right around the corner!! 


Race start
Race start

5k Awards

David Maus 1st Prize
David Maus 1st Prize

5k runners
5k runners

Waiting to start the 5k
Waiting to start the 5k

5k on the runway
5k on the runway

Rusty Fleming, MC
Rusty Fleming, MC

The winners 2013
The winners 2013


Pilot spotlight 

 

These are the very special pilots that volunteered to take one or more of our many weekly missions.  

  

Michael Dean x3

Jim Jordan

Stan Shaw

John Epley

Joe Knight

Doug Ellis

Warren Cheatham

Jim Ledenbach

David Horsford

Larry Hedden

Dr. Hahn

Dave Walker x2

Jim Pyrich x2

Ashish Naran x2

Cliff Hoffman

Phil Gross

Dr. Bryan

 

34 mission legs were coordinated 3/16/2013 - 3/22/2013

 

Billy Evans

John Epley

Jim Pyrich

George Robbins

Mark Nowicki

Dr. Hahn

Larry Hall

Attilio DiMarco

Marc Miller

Jeff Lichterman x3

Rich Kendel

David Walker x2 

Philip Gross

Mookie Bahiri

 

59 mission legs were coordinated 4/6/2013 - 4/12/2013

 

Charlsie's son, Nelda, Charlsie and pilot Marc Miller
Charlsie Moore's son, Nelda, Charlsie and pilot Marc Miller  

  

 

Pilots: Please send your photos via your smart-phones to: info@mercymail.org. We'll get them posted on our social networks so we get some additional PR. 

 

Thank you for all of your time and energy. 

 

Tower Closure update

FAA News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FAA Extends Tower Closure Date

 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced today that it will delay the closures of all 149 federal contract air traffic control towers until June 15. Last month, the FAA announced it would eliminate funding for these towers as part of the agency's required $637 million budget cuts under sequestration.

This additional time will allow the agency to attempt to resolve multiple legal challenges to the closure decisions. As part of the tower closure implementation process, the agency continues to consult with airports and operators and review appropriate risk mitigations. Extending the transition deadline will give the FAA and airports more time to execute the changes to the National Airspace System.

"This has been a complex process and we need to get this right," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Safety is our top priority. We will use this additional time to make sure communities and pilots understand the changes at their local airports."

As of today, approximately 50 airport authorities and other stakeholders have indicated they may join the FAA's non-Federal Contract Tower program and fund the tower operations themselves. This additional time will allow the FAA to help facilitate that transition.

"We will continue our outreach to the user community to answer any questions and address their concerns about these tower closures," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.

On March 22, the FAA announced that it would stop federal funding for 149 contract towers across the country. A phased, four-week closure process was scheduled to begin this Sunday, April 7. That phased closure process will no longer occur. Instead, the FAA will stop funding all 149 towers on June 15 and will close the facilities unless the airports decide to continue operations as a non-federal contract tower.

 


Philanthrofest
Philanthrofest booth with volunteer Maria


Philanthrofest
Philanthrofest

Amelia at Philanthrofest
Amelia at Philanthrofest

 

No Sun 'n' Fun this year
Unfortunately we not did have a booth at Sun 'n' Fun this year. I've had a number of people ask "why?"

Even though we are a non-profit, our charity has to pay full price for space at Sun 'n' Fun, being treated the same as all of the for-profit vendors. In recent years, our charity has had a declining ROI on recruiting new pilots, and we're not allowed to ask for donations at the event. Ultimately we decided to save the money this year and not attend.

We try to be as careful as we can with the donated dollars we receive, making sure that our mission thrives. We'll see you around our region at many other events who don't charge us, so just keep checking the calendar!

 

Volunteer opportunities:

 

Islands Fest- Saturday 4/20 Peter O'Knight Airport, Tampa

Need some booth help so Steve isn't too lonely. 

 

Question, comments or concerns?
Contact us at (352) 326-0761
or email us at info@mercymail.org
 
Our organization entirely relies on donations to keep going. More than ever, we could use your help. Please consider making a donation today. Even better, make a recurring donation to help all year long.
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