Going Above & Beyond
The nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, and the pilots...the communication specialists who respond to flight requests and handle logistical details...the mechanics who ensure flight safety aboard our aircraft...these are the people of REACH who work day in and day out. It's their job to provide life-saving missions to men, women, and children of our communities. It's their mission to serve.
Meet some members of our team:
Mark Cicali, Lead Pilot
REACH - Upland Fire
April 2010
Interview Courtesy of Aviation Safety Network
Mark joined REACH Air Medical Services as a member of the inaugural base expansion in Southern California. This marked his first post-military position and his entry into the EMS field. Mark has trained in the EC-135 and the Bell 407 helicopters. Mark has been an Aviation Safety Network representative since 2009 and is currently the lead pilot at the REACH base in Upland, California.
Mark Cicali has a Bachelor of Arts in economics and attended the University of Oregon as part of the National Student Exchange Program before receiving a commission in the United States Marine to train in Virginia. Mark subsequently received flight training in Florida, achieved a distinction on the Commodore's List and earned his wings as a Naval Aviator. Mark was subsequently selected to train and fly the AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter at Camp Pendleton in California.
This led to an assignment to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 and deployment to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Storm; aboard the USS Okinawa for rapid response operations in the western pacific; Somalia, Africa for Operation Restore Hope; and Okinawa, Japan as part of the Unit Deployment program. He held various leadership positions throughout the Squadron including Flight Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, and Quality Assurance Officer.
In 1994, Mark spent two years training pilots in the AH-1W attack helicopter then as a member of the Officer Selection team responsible for the recruiting of Marine Officers and Pilots to Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. After being transferred to Marine Air Group 39 he spent a year on the headquarters staff until joining Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 and being deployed at the Detachment Officer in Charge of the Light Attack helicopters aboard the USS Essex out of Okinawa, Japan. He was immediately dispatched to Indonesia after the attacks of 9/11 becoming the primary planner for aviation operations for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and planning the evacuation of all US personnel from Indonesia.
Upon return to the United States, Mark joined the international staff of NATO in a branch of the Joint Sub-Regional Headquarters, Stavanger Norway becoming deputy J7 and an exercise planner for the Joint Warfare Centre following the transformation of NATO. He deployed to Baghdad, Iraq to train senior Iraqi officers in operations. On return to Camp Pendleton in California he completed 20 years of active duty as the Operations Officer of the largest squadron in the Marine Corps until retiring in 2008.
Mark has earned many military awards during the course of his career. He is experienced in a variety of aircraft including EC-135, B407, AH-1J/W, UH-1N, MD-500/300, BELL 206, SA 341 Gazelle, T-34 Mentor, CESSNA 414/401, BEECH 76.
Mark is married to the former Ms. Tondra Meyer and has two sons, Tyler and Kyle. He currently resides in Aliso Viejo in California. In his free time, Mark enjoys soccer, sailing, and skiing.
Mike Tinney, Aircraft Technician
Maintenance Department, Maintenance Hangar
March 2010
How did you end up at REACH?
I was Director of Maintenance for small air ambulance company in Idaho. We had two Agusta K2's. I asked our rep from Agusta where the good stuff was happening. He always mentioned REACH. I called, sent a resume, and after a year, I was here.
When I joined it was still a small company located in two bays across from the Pacific Coast Air Museum. At the time, there were probably about eight of us total including three admin staff. Now, I haven't got a clue--probably 16 or 18.
This is my second stint at REACH. I originally joined the company in 2001. In 2002 I became the Chief Inspector. Things were a lot simpler back then. As Chief Inspector I did the exit inspections on aircraft. I was the final set of eyes on the aircraft before it went out.
I left REACH for a while to go work with Andy, who was our Agusta rep. He had a small power aviation business in Auburn and asked me to come work with him. While I liked working with him, I missed it here. REACH has a structure. I work better with structure. And, I missed the guys. In Auburn, I worked mostly alone. Here, there's talent. If I need sheet metal, I go to Paul Hentz. If I need something electric, I go to Lynn (Prunty). No matter what you need, somebody in this shop knows the answer to what you're looking for.
Where were you born?
Well, my father was in the military so I lived all over. I was born in France, but I left there when I was a kid. I lived in Europe a few times when I was in grade school. Mostly, I grew up in Colorado. That's where I went to high school.
What is your background?
I was in the Army after high school, 82nd Airborne. After that, I went to A&P school for something to do. I thought I would be a pilot. I discovered I liked working on the aircraft a whole lot more than flying. My first job was on an Aerospatiale SA-315B "Lama". I have asked the young guys about that aircraft--they have no idea what I'm talking about.
After the Army, I got my A&P license in Colorado, when I was around 22. I worked for one of the largest EMS providers (before they were an EMS provider), Rocky Mountain provider (now part of Air Methods). I worked for a geophysical company, searching for oil. I chased that old helicopter across several states: Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada-- working out of trucks in the middle of nowhere. It was crazy--no water, no electricity--but somehow we maintained the helicopter.
What is your day to day job?
I do a lot of things. I do trouble shooting, help with repairs at bases, anything that comes in to the hangar. I go to our out bases on regular basis. When there's a problem, if they are broken down, I go out and get them back in service. Like at REACH 9 when they had the problem with the EC135 engines...or at Corvallis. Recently, I went to with Shi and Alex and we replaced two dual engines and did an 800 hour inspection on an EC135 in one week. It was a hard week--but a good one.
Favorite part of your job?
I like working with the young, new mechanics. I enjoy showing them things I learned the hard way. I am going to be 54, and the number of years that I can work on the hangar floor is limited. I want to pass on as much info to those young folks as I can so they don't have to struggle with what's already known. I want to make their job easier.
