AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2023 - 43

Passion meets
community
'Fighter' pilot overcomes cancer,
returns to the sky
BY EMMA QUEDZUWEIT
TAMMY MEREDITH GR EW up regaled with stories from her
father, who was a U.S. Air Force ground refueler at Kimpo
Airbase in the Korean War, and during her childhood they
went to countless airshows together. If there were ever airplane
rides being offered, she and her dad were on one as
often as they could afford. Throughout adulthood, aviation
remained in the back of her mind, but because she always
heard flying was difficult and took a lot of money, she never
seriously considered becoming a pilot
Then one day, she saw an advertisement for a discovery
flight at Auburn Municipal Airport (AUN) in Northern
California. She was nearing retirement and reconsidering
learning to fly, so she took the discovery flight. Her interest
was instantly reignited and she was off and running, training
as often as possible and soaking up everything she could
learn. Then she got a job at Sunshine Flyers-one of the on-airport flight schools-
and suddenly, aviation became a bigger part of her life. She began meeting pilots,
being up close to aircraft, and learning by immersion.
In January 2018 her dream came true when she passed her private pilot checkride,
and she began enjoying the best of what general aviation has to offer-her
favorites being the simple joys of flying, seeing new places, and meeting new people.
But a new challenge arrived in her life. A year and a half after getting her
certificate, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent aggressive chemotherapy.
So began her years-long fight with both health and financial adversities.
Through it all, Meredith's aviation family was a pillar of care and support. The
Auburn Airport community and the Sierra Gold (then Placer Gold) chapter of The
Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, organized a fundraising
event at the airport to support her treatment that included things like auction
items, airplanes rides, and more. " You realize how lucky you are, and how it makes
a huge difference to have that support, " she said. Her family members, who are
not involved in aviation, were amazed and touched by the generosity of the tightknit
aviation community.
Meredith's recovery has been long, but her determination to keep flying never
wavered. She continued steadily at her own pace, investing time as she could,
because giving up was never an option. In the summer of 2022, she was finally
able to take a long-desired first step toward pursuing a seaplane rating at Alaska
Floats and Skis in Talkeetna, Alaska. Flying a 1951 Piper PA-20 Tri-Pacer on floats
was another dream come true, and she enjoyed a thrilling time flying in the Alaska
backcountry with the instructors.
However, strong fatigue-a lingering effect of chemotherapy-flared up more
than she anticipated, and it became clear that she would not be able to complete
Tammy Meredith did most of her training in a Cessna
172, but she treasures her flying experiences in a
Piper Cub on skis and a Tri-Pacer floatplane. She
participates in animal rescue flights and founded an
animal rescue in her community.
the accelerated course in time. Despite the disappointment
of this setback, she determined to
stay positive, appreciating the opportunity to
build skills and have fun.
" I'm so lucky to be able to do what I do, "
she said. Her passion for aviation is stronger
than ever, and her goal is to keep flying no
matter what it takes, even if that might look
a little different for a while. " If I have to keep
flying with another pilot for safety reasons,
then so be it. "
" If you really want to do it, don't give up
or let people talk you out of it, " she said. " Find
your inner circle that share your passion, or
who are going through the same thing. Talk
to them and accept their support. From aviation
I learned that people are genuinely nice
and want to help you reach your goals, and
these people will help you get through it,
cheer you on, and want to see you succeed. "
emma.quedzuweit@aopa.org
AOPA PILOT / January 2023
43
TAMMY MEREDITH
AOPA Pilot Magazine - January 2023

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