TRAINING & RESOURCES

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PALS SkyHope Pilot Training & Resources

Before you apply to be a volunteer pilot for PALS SkyHope, please take the time to read and understand our Pilot Handbook, recommendations, guidelines and other information. PALS SkyHope also encourages all pilots interested in volunteering to learn more about PIC qualifications before flying.

Download our latest Pilot Brochure for yourself or a friend.

For over 14 years PALS has been connecting great volunteer pilots with the people who need their skill and talent. Whether it’s a medical flight, supply mission or any other transportation need, pilots like you are what make the difference for so many lives.

Pilot’s Handbook

An indispensable resource for all new (and current) volunteer pilots. It provides tons of helpful information and can answer many questions you may have in regards to flying with PALS.

PALS SkyHope Pilot and Passenger Business Cards

Have you found yourself out and about, singing the praise of PALS and wanted to pass along more info? Well below you can download a digital copy of our pilot recruitment business card as well as a patient flight request card.

Pilot Mentors

NOTE: The contact info for any of the pilots listed below can be found in the Pilot Community or by calling the office
State First Name Last Name Primary Home Base
CT
Robert
Statius-Muller
Danbury Muni
CT
George
McMillin
Groton/New London
CT
Kurt
Fischer
Chester
DE
Daniel
McCardle
New Castle
DE
John
Garner
New Castle
MA
Christopher
Steward
Norwood Memorial
MA
Jeff
Scorse
Fitchburg Muni
MA
Adam
Broun
Laurence G Hanscom Fld
MA
Mark
Hanson
Norwood Memorial
MD
Malinda
Caywood
Frederick Muni
ME
James
Schmidt
Auburn/Lewiston Municipal Airport
ME
Jeffrey
Gorman
Portland Intl Jetport
ME
Thomas
Quinby
Brunswick Executive Airport
MI
David
Robertson
St Clair County Intl
NC
James
Monroe
Smith Reynolds
NH
James
Ennis
Mount Washington Rgnl
NH
David
Pascoe
Boire Field
NJ
Francis
Adriaens
Somerset
NJ
Sreedhar
Velicheti
Somerset
NY
Jeffrey
Gilbert
Republic Airport
NY
Terrence
Flood
Long Island Mac Arthur
NY
Peter
Lautensack
Oswego County
NY
Michael
Harbater
Republic Airport
NY
Patrick
Murphy
Westchester County
NY
Lee
Verrone
Westchester County
OH
Greg
Ciliberti
Lebanon-Warren County
NY
Ronald
Becker
Akron-Canton Regional
VA
Robin
Dreeke
Shannon
VT
Daniel
Brown
Rutland State

News & Updates

Pilot Safety Committee News

Read the latest Pilot Safety Committee News from our recent newsletter tips and insights from one of our volunteer pilots, Terry Flood.

Pilot Safety Committee Update – Jay Duncan

A gentle reminder as we approach summer that density altitude will play more of a role in our operations.  The higher performance that we have been experiencing in the colder months are a thing of the past as we approach the warmer and more humid days.  As you know high altitude, high temperature, and high humidity create less dense or thinner air that contribute to high density altitude and impact aircraft and engine performance. While most of us don’t regularly deal with high terrain, we most certainly will experience high humidity and temperature conditions, which significantly degrade aircraft performance and longer takeoff and landing distances and shallow climb gradients. One trick is to try to fly earlier or later in the day when at least the temperature is not as much of a factor.  Regardless,  it doesn’t hurt to pop open that POH and consult your performance charts for impact to density altitude (see example below) in general as well as for your specific aircraft.

Archives

March 2024: Pilot Town Hall Recap

Thank you to those of you who joined our recent PALS SkyHope Pilot Town Hall. I think we all can agree that it was very informative, and the controllers did a great job answering your questions! Thank you to Sam Ramos, NY ATC, John Covino, BOS ATC and Hanan Wiseman, BOS ATC!  For those of you who weren’t able to join the zoom, you can click below to view the full recording, and click below to find answers to questions submitted by Pilots.

2022: Pilot Town Hall Recap

We had an exciting town hall and were honored to have retired USAF flight test engineer and SR-71 Reconnaissance Systems Operator, Phil Soucy. We gathered his responses to your questions as well as the chat room transcript.