People

Passion meets community

‘Fighter’ pilot overcomes cancer, returns to the sky

By Emma Quedzuweit

Tammy Meredith grew 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 tight-knit 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 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.”

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When pigs fly

Meet Pignella, 9-week-old American Miniature Pig, who seems to enjoy flying as much as her owner, Nick Pliam, does. On a weekend outing to Ashland, Oregon, Pliam and his wife, Vivian, brought Pignella in their Beechcraft Bonanza for her first piston airplane flight. Sporting her new earmuffs, Pignella was a model passenger during the two-hour flight. At cruising altitude, she was invited for a cockpit tour, but appeared to prefer the passenger cabin view of northern California from 9,000 feet. She enjoyed a light snack during in-flight refreshment service before settling in for a nap. Pliam has always had a penchant for both aviation and pigs. So much so that his company is called Flying Pigs Aviation.