San Diego Cadet Squadron 144

Brown Field, San Diego, CA. During the month of September, Ms. Lonna Gibson, West Coast Director of Challenge Air, requested CAP assistance for flight line security and marshalling aircraft at Brown Field on 17 November 2007. Challenge Air is a non-profit organization that provides mentally and physically challenged children with airplane rides nation-wide.

Three CAP squadron personnel volunteered their time for this activity and are listed as follows:

SD Cadet Sq. 144
C/2Lt Peter Kler
C/CMSgt Douglas Saavedra
C/CMSgt Chandra Murphy
C/Amn Scott Lynch
C/Amn Antony Tavan
C/AB Alexander Lange
C/AB Caleb Duescher
C/AB Emily Duescher
C/AB Nathan Duescher
C/AB Rebecca Olson
C/AB Dominick Tavan
C/AB Reece Coulter
C/AB Sean Coulter

Capt David Saavedra
2Lt Jeff Cable
Capt Dennis Ammann

South SD Cadet Sq. 201
C/CMSgt Matthew Lytle
C/AB Dylan Wall

LtCol Steve Handrop
Capt Casey Handrop

Skyhawk Composite Sq. 47
1Lt William Dean

At 0745 hours the above personnel reported to Capt Ammann at the San Diego Jet Center hangar in order to check-in with the Challenger Air staff. After check-in 1Lt Dean, LtCol Handrop, and Lt Cable attended the pilots’ briefing while the other members attended the ground safety brief. Once safety procedures were established, C/2Lt Kler set up a rotating flight line detail along the small flight line and around three rows of aircraft.

The children were escorted out to the waiting aircraft at 0900 hours by members of other San Diego volunteer organizations who assisted the children into the cabin and buckled them in. Once the pilot was ready to taxi, CAP personnel directed the aircraft out onto the taxiway.

There were about 20 pilots operating 15 light aircraft, providing 135 special children the time of their life! The pilots were from all over San Diego and provided a 45 minute orientation ride around the South San Diego area. Upon returning to ‘tierra firma’ the child disembarked from the airplane; the pilot affixed Challenger Air golden wings on the child’s shirt; and the staff presented a certificate of flight while posing for a picture. This was very emotional to witness, to see the beaming faces of these children after their flight receiving their wings. We all knew we were providing valuable assistance to a very worth while organization.

LtCol Handrop and Lt Dean brought their handheld radios for direct communications with the pilots. They directed them to Lt Cable who passed them off to cadets who positioned them to a tie-down on one of the three rows. With the vast experience of these three senior members and C/Lt Kler’s past air show experience and excellent leadership, the new cadets were quickly taught how to marshal aircraft and provide flight line security.

At high noon, Challenge Air staff provided lunch consisting of BBQ hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, and potato chips for the volunteers. CAP personnel were rotated accordingly as flight operations continued during lunch.

Capt Casey Handrop, wife of LtCol Steve Handrop, brought her working dog, Colette and acted as our CAP photographer. The children were able to interact with this well-trained service dog, who also has therapy certification, and attends the middle school where Capt Handrop is a teacher. Two other working dogs were present as well. In addition to the dogs, the children enjoyed an inflatable jumping room too.

Flight operations were conducted all day until 1700 hours when flight operations were finally secured as the sun set in the west. Although it was tiring standing up all day, marshalling aircraft, and providing flight line security, everyone felt they accomplished and supported a very worthwhile event. What a wonder day it was, no aircraft accidents, no personnel injuries, weather was perfect, free Challenger Air T-shirts, and watching the children leave, excited about their flight in the blue skies of San Diego. One pilot, Mr. Tom Burton, provided two cadets a ride in his Champ two place light aircraft just before securing for the day.

It seems like CAP is always there to assist air show staffs with flight line security. CAP volunteers leave with a sense of accomplishment knowing they provided a vital task and at the same time watch an air show. Although there was no air show during Challenger Air, I can attest that there was a different sense of accomplishment. The cadets and senior members left that day with a deep feeling of warmth, knowing they helped these very special children. We look forward to helping Challenge Air next year when called upon and are indebted to Ms. Gibson for allowing us to assist.

Semper Vigilans!,

Capt Dennis S. Ammann
Commander, SD Cadet Sq. 144

Posted by Vince on Saturday, November 17, 2007 at 7:49 PM | Permalink