planeandpilotmag.com 27migration from our vantage point in the air. We circled
once overhead and made a sweeping turn so they could
follow us with their eyes to the hill in the background.
The cremated remains were released right after the drum
ceremony ended, and we could hear the joyful cheers from
the people on the ground through the radio. It sent chills
down my spine. I felt so lucky to be a part of it.
One of the reasons this flight stands out in my mind is
that I was able to see the entire service from the perspec-
tive of those on the ground. Roger had a production crew
who captured video of the memorial on the ground and in
the air. To make sure we could fulfill the family ’s wishes,
we made an initial test flight with one videographer, Tony,
in the plane and another videographer on the ground
so they could get their shot angles and coordinate the
memorial. We timed how long it would take to get from
the departure airport to the scattering location and how
long our orbit would take to get from our holding spot
to make that giant, dramatic sweeping turn to grab the
attention of the family and friends before we scattered
over the rolling hills. We measured the time it would take
to fly along the ridgeline so that the release would take
place along the length of the ridgeline. When I asked Roger
for his permission to include details of Geri’s service for
this article, he sent me a message saying, “Tony and I
still wonder to this day how we managed to pull it all off.
It was you who were the centerpiece of that memorial,
not a small part.”
Each scattering flight must follow rules and regula-
tions. We are required to file the proper paperwork
with the local health department, the Environmental
Protection Agency, and the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau
of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. We
are a Part 91 operation and work closely with the FAA
and our local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
We obtain all required permits from the land locations
over which we scatter cremated remains—this requires
coordination with superintendents of national parks,
state parks and private property owners. A big portion
of my job is figuring out how to get the permits I need to
accomplish the wishes of my clients. That part isn’t as
glamorous or fun as the flying part, but we have become
very good at it.
Sometimes families aren’t completely sure what it is
they want, or they cannot agree on what to do for their
loved one who passed. Again, we must follow the letter
of the law regarding power of attorney and next-of-kin
regulation. Scattering cremated remains is an event with
finality—we cannot get the remains back. On occasion,
we will decline to scatter if the family is not in full agree-
ment. Sometimes it feels like I am a grief counselor or a
family counselor more than a pilot, but that is a critical
aspect of how A Journey With Wings cares for our clients.
A Journey With Wings is a family affair. It is a family
business. My husband is a part-time office manager, and
my sons often help me with paperwork and by preparing
the cremated remains for the scattering flights. My dad
has been my favorite co-pilot ever since we started flying
together when I was 17 years old, and that never gets old.
We are always seeking out new location and memorial
options for families. We like to take on new challenges.
In this business, the sky really is the limit. PPFor many families, and not just those of pilots flown west, the final act of love is having their family member's ashes scattered in a special place.
Here, one such family watches our author spread the cremains of their loved one along the Pacific coast.