2026 WESTERN AREA REPORT
My Fellow Americans—AAviators and friends that is…
I’m happy to report that 2025 was a great year here out west with 2026 already shaping up to eclipse the fun from the previous year before! In LAX we celebrated another couple of “Graduating Classes of Retirees” on June 7th, 2025, and most recently June 6th, 2026 at the LAX Marriott with 23 & 18 honorees respectfully, their many friends and family also in attendance on those special evenings.
Our Northern Nevada/Eastern California luncheons continue to be a rousing success. The esteemed Bill Baerresen (with a lot of help from his wife Kristina) both do a phenomenal job of lining up great venues at reasonable prices! Please join us at the next one near you.
Our Holiday Dinner last December 2025, was hosted by Jim and Collette Nowlin at their home high on the foothills overlooking Reno and the Truckee Meadows, with around 30 people in attendance. Many thank’s are in order for the Allied Pilots Association LAX Domiciles’ Chairman William Brynjolfsson and Vice Chair Tim Dick’s generous donation to help underwrite the festive affair!
Now for something new… for the first time ever, yours truly and the lovely Miss Charo held a “Grey Eagles and Friends” BBQ luncheon at our Hangar-minum home located at the Farias Wheel Airport in beautiful Smith Valley Nevada. Over 40 people attended the event sponsored by Tres Piñon Aviation which was billed as a Flying/RVing/Drive-In event. This brought together AAers, former RenoAir pilots and flight attendants, as well as local residents from the airport. A great time was had by all culminating with Miss Charo’s delicious Peruvian deserts, burgers, hot dogs, salad, camaraderie, and finished up with a homemade paper airplane distance contest in the hangar! It’s our intention to make this an annual May luncheon event. Cya’ next year!
Finally, Phoenix will be our next Retirement Dinner this September 12th, 2026 with the venue and details currently being formalized; please try and make this exciting event this fall to see the latest cadre of Phoenicians stepping into their next chapter!
A hearty thank you to everyone who participates in our local events here on “The Left Coast”; it’s truly our privilege to help make them happen! With that said, it is my distinct honor to introduce two of our newly minted Grey Eagles’ Deputy Area Directors for the Western Region. Please welcome LAX 777 First Officer Marc Galishoff and LAX A320 Captain Kevin Cordes, and give them a hearty thank you for stepping up to make our west coast events a rousing success!
Speaking of Area Directors, yours truly just answered the call and volunteered for the 2nd Vice President of The Grey Eagles position, with me slated to be your 2028 President. I am truly honored and humbled that Captain Steve Catalano bestowed me with that opportunity-and hopefully, I will do him proud—THANK YOU for your vote of confidence!
Please check out: westernareagreyeagles.com for all the news and latest events in the Western Area Region of The Grey Eagles…
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at our 2026 Savannah Grey Eagles Reunion Convention and the various local events in the coming year. Stay safe, healthy, prosperous, and as always, “don’t fly angry!”
Fraternally,
Captain ED Cook
Western Area Director & 2nd Vice President
The Grey Eagles