HOLLIS, N.H. — Take Wing Air now offers a new service at the Nashua Municipal Airport, helping people scatter the ashes of a departed family member, loved one or pet, by air.
“Although I have been a pilot for many years, I first got the idea of doing aerial ash scattering commercially after I performed this service for my own parents,” said Bill Dino, owner and operator of Take Wing Air. “It brought a fitting closure to their lives and gave us comfort.”
After doing a little research, Dino found there was a need for such a service in the New Hampshire and New York areas.
As part of their service, Take Wing Air provides a witnessed certificate documenting the time and location of the release of the cremains and a Google map overlay of the flight. Aerial ash scattering can take place at a large selection of locations over land or sea throughout New England and Eastern New York. They are also able to honor special requests such as music, flyovers or readings.
Take Wing Air uses a specially modified twin engine Beech Baron that allows a loved one’s ashes to be released through the bottom of the aircraft in a safe and dignified manner, according to Dino, who explains the cremains will always drift down and away from the plane.
There is never an issue of cremated ash coming back into the cockpit or hitting the side of the plane. Dino reports this is a common problem with many competing services or “pilot friends” who volunteer to help.