Hello, all Pilots and Volunteers!
The 15th Annual CABA-VFW Holiday Airlift will be conducted the weekend of December 12-13-14, 2025. We hope those of you who volunteered as pilots and ground support in the past are able to participate again, and we welcome those who are new to this great event!
This year is special for two reasons: First, one of our Founders, Ron Davies, passed away earlier this year. Since he was the State commander for the VFW when we started this project, we and the VFW have renamed it the Ron Davies Memorial Airlift, and he will be honored at the CABA Holiday party on December 11. Check the website for details.
Second, Tallgrass Energy is our major corporate sponsor this year. They have made a substantial financial contribution toward food and toys for the airlift. In addition, they'll be running ads on television and social media for the month of November beginning on November 1. So if you happen to catch the ad for the VFW Ron Davies Memorial Airlift, just know that they're referring to ALL OF US AND YOU!
*No need to sign up for the airlift through their ad - just reply to this email!*
AIRLIFT DETAILS:
1. The airlift will be staged out of the hangar at Signature South at Centennial, and once again I want to acknowledge that Signature has been a stalwart supporter of the airlift in this capacity since 2015.
2. Friday 12/12: The cargo of toys and non-perishable food items will be delivered to the hangar at Signature APA South at 8123 S Interport Blvd, south of the FBO terminal, next to Modern. Weighing and sorting will begin that same day and be completed by Saturday 12/13. We anticipate a total of 12,000-15,000 lbs of cargo, maybe more.
That means we'll need plenty of aircraft this year so forward this email to let all your pilot friends know about it and have them contact me.
3. Sunday 12/14: Flight ops will be conducted from the same hangar/ramp, weather permitting. If the weather doesn't cooperate, flights will be completed on an ad hoc basis through the following week subject to availability of pilots, aircraft, and VFW personnel at the destination airports.
Pilots for the longer-leg mountain flights should plan to begin arriving at 8 am to begin loading, and departures will begin no later than 10 am, earlier if possible.
There will likely be news media present which could result in some slight delays. Put your best foot forward for them!
5. Destination airports: Mountain flights will depart earlier for Grand Junction (GJT), Montrose (MTJ), Durango (DRO), Cortez (CEZ), and Alamosa (ALS). Pilots wanting to sign up for western slope or mountain destinations must have either past experience or a mountain checkout.
Flights east of the Divide will be Pueblo (PUB), Las Animas (7V9), Sterling (STK), Greeley (GXY), Longmont (LMO) and NorCo Rgnl (FNL).
6. Liability waiver: attached in both
MS Word and
PDF formats -
all pilots and passengers must complete one and return to me, preferably by email but hard copies are ok too.
Owner-pilots must send me a copy of your insurance, and renters should indicate the rental facility or send a copy of your non-owner insurance.
7. Pilot Info: Please reply directly to this email with your destination preference, cell phone #, aircraft type and tail #, home base, and anticipated cargo capacity (minus pax).
Ground support volunteers please let me know which days you're available to help with sorting, weighing, and loading.
If there are any questions don't hesitate to email or give me a call at 303-881-3315.
Thank you all very much and I look forward to hearing from you!
-Mike
Airlift Director