Challenge Air 2009
Outstanding turn-out for the 2009 Challenge Air event at Brown Field Airport with 18 cadets and three senior members from two squadrons – Sq. 144 & 201. This was our third year supporting this wonderful organization dedicated to special needs children.
In addition to the above, CAP members of Ryan-Hemet Composite Sq. 59, Lt David Peabody C/Amn Stacy Peabody, C/Sgt Joshua Burnham, and Lt Bill Dean along with our own Lt Chris Haukom provided their skills as aircraft directors in a non-CAP status earning credit for the CAP Community Service Ribbon.
The following personnel reported in at 0730 hours, Saturday, 18 April to the Project Officer, Capt David Saavedra, Sq. 144:
Sq. 144
Maj Dennis Ammann
C/2Lt Chandra Murphy
C/MSgt Hanna Olson
C/MSgt Hayden Sheyda
C/SSgt Jesse O’Keefe
C/TSgt Nathan Blackburne
C/TSgt Alexander Lange
C/A1c Andrew Overson
C/Amn Michael Saavedra
C/Amn Calvin Amos
C/Amn Andrea Atkins
Sq. 201
LtCol Steve Handrop
C/CMSgt Jason Hannibal
C/SSgt Matthew Valdez
C/SSgt Zack Hamner
C/SrA Jacob Hamner
C/Amn Philip Barlis
C/Amn Heidi Froslie
C/Amn Jacklyn Froslie
C/AB Joshua Gibson
With C/2Lt Chandra Murphy taking charge as Cadet Commander, she quickly formed up the cadets and assigned element flight leaders.
The initial plan was to help the Challenge Air staff set up the hangar in preparation for the special needs children who would be arriving at 0900 hours with their parents. Then attend the informative brief given by Mr. Byron Laszlo, Director of Challenge Air and his West Coast Director, Mrs. Lonna Gibson. The brief consisted of who the founder was, how Challenge Air became such a valuable asset and therapy for the children, and how the various community groups can provide future support. Afterwards, flight line posts were set and everything went very well throughout the day.
A USAF C-130H Hercules from the Georgia Air National Guard was parked adjacent to the Challenge Air ramp, so Capt Saavedra introduced himself and asked permission for our cadets to have a look around. They were all rotated through the C-130 and up to the cockpit for a very quick tour of this huge cargo hauler before the flight crew had to pull chocks and depart for Texas and then home to Savanna.
At about 0900 hours, Mr. Dave Scott from KUSI, a local news TV station, interviewed our CAP celebrity, Capt David Saavedra. He spoke about CAP and the benefits it provides to today’s youth and how the program instills leadership, responsibility, and maturity in our cadets.
Many of us again saw the smiling faces of the children as they disembarked from the aircraft and received Challenge Air flight pins and certificates. The parents were so happy for them and grateful to Challenge Air for allowing their children to fly. About 120 children received aircraft rides throughout the day.
Although the weather was excellent with a slight sea breeze, and 80 degree temperatures, no sunburn, dehydration, or personal injuries resulted. At about 1600 hours the last flight was completed with the sixteen Challenge Air volunteer pilots departing to their respective home airports for a well deserved rest. The other community groups who helped departed as well. Although our CAP cadets were tired and ready to return home too, their work was not finished as they formed up inside the hangar for a ‘FOD walk down’ and left the hangar in a clean state for San Diego Jet Center to re-spot their corporate aircraft inside.
Many thanks to our very good friends from Ryan-Hemet Composite Sq. 59 for volunteering in a non-CAP status. The West Coast Director, Mrs. Lonna Gibson really appreciated their help and expertise keeping the volunteer pilots happy and more importantly, SAFE! Thanks to Capt David Saavedra for spearheading this effort as Project Officer, transporting cadets, looking after their safety and concerns. Special thanks to LtCol Steve Handrop for bringing Sq. 201 cadets so that they too can experience Challenge Air. Finally thanks to C/2Lt Chandra Murphy’s outstanding job supervising the cadets, responding to personnel requests, and rotating them around the flight line.
I’m sure everyone will be looking forward to next year’s Challenge Air event and becoming part of the famous Challenge Air Force, well perhaps, temporarily that is.
Semper Vigilans!
Maj Dennis S. Ammann
