Ash Dispersal

FAQs

• How do I make arrangements?

  Please call us at (619)757-6419 to verify location availability and pricing. We will e-mail you the paperwork required. Once the paperwork is complete, we can schedule the scattering. Then we can make arrangements for pick-up, delivery or shipment of the cremated remains. If the scattering is to be witnessed we will discuss with you the best options, and locations for witnessing.

• How much does it cost?

  Our prices start at $450. The price range for our service is about the price range of purchasing an urn. Our prices are dependent on the distance and the plane we need to use.

• Do I contact you before or after the cremation has taken place?

  We can work with you at any stage. If you have already selected a crematory, we can work with them to make sure that the paperwork has the proper information for a scattering. If you already have the cremated remains in your possession, than we will re-file the paperwork to get scattering permits. If a death has occurred or is imminent, and you have not selected a crematory, please contact us; we can help you select a low cost crematory, or a full service funeral home of your choice.

• If I choose cremation and scattering does this mean we can’t have a funeral?

  Absolutely not! The scattering is just the final disposition similar to placing the cremated remains in an urn or burring the body. You can still have a full service funeral or memorial service. Many families choose to have a traditional memorial service followed by a scattering service. Others choose to have the memorial service right there on location where the scattering is going to take place. It is a farewell that all in attendance will remember and be touched by.

• May I be participate in the scattering flight?

  Yes! You can participate in the scattering of ashes. The FAA has some pretty strict guidelines we must adhere to. The sole purpose of the flight will be to scatter the cremated remains, we are not allowed to take passengers for the sake of just flying, but you may be on board to perform some of the tasks required for the scattering. Because each flight is different, the necessary tasks will vary. One of the tasks required on each flight is to operate the scattering device. Because of the privacy of our other clients, this can only be done on a private scattering flight. Please contact us to discuss it further.

• How does the cost compare to other memorial services?

  For about the price of an urn, you can release your loved one with this very special farewell. The scattering can take the place of the memorial service or be done in addition to a traditional funeral or memorial service

• Can I choose my own location?

  Yes! However, we must work within the constraints of the EPA, the FAA, Your State and Local Laws. For example, here in California, we are required to have written permission from the land owner or governing agency of the location we will be scattering over. We will make every attempt to get the permission for your desired location, or something very close. If you would like help in determining a location, please visit our locations page.

• Can you scatter family members together?

  Yes! There are laws with strict guidelines we must follow to “co-mingle” cremated remains.

• Can you scatter my pet?

  Yes! There are laws with strict guidelines we must follow to “co-mingle” cremated remains.

• Can we keep part of the ashes?

  Yes! We can scatter just a portion of the cremated remains. If you would like to purchase a keepsake urn, or other memorial products, please visit: Cremations Solutions.`

• I am a pilot, can you show me how to do this myself?

  Yes! But please don’t try this without knowing how to do it or without the right equipment. We have all heard the stories of how it can go terribly wrong. With the consultation service I will handle all the paperwork for you as well. If you are a commercial pilot, and want to start an scattering business, I can offer you a business consultation as well.

• How Do I Get Cremated Remains To You?

  You can hand-deliver them to our office or you or your funeral director can mail them to us. If you are local to us, we can meet you at a location we agree upon, or we can pick them up directly from the mortuary or crematory.

  If you feel you would like to hand-deliver the cremated remains you can bring them to our office at the Fullerton Airport. We are located at 3717 John J Montgomery Dr San Diego, Ca, 92123. There is a receptionist available each day from 9am-5pm. They can take the cremated remains from you and lock them in my office. They cannot handle the cremated remains, so they will not be able to return the urn to you nor will they be able to separate out any cremated remains for you.

• How do I mail cremated remains?

  You or your funeral director can mail the cremated remains to us via USPS. The USPS is the only way to mail cremated remains. You will need to send them Priority Mail Express. More information can be found here. The USPS offers a free kit to help you package the cremated remains that you can order online: Click Here.

  We would like this process to be as easy as possible for you. Please contact us and we can help you figure out your best option.

• Do you add anything to the cremated remains so they can be seen better?

  No, we do not add anything to the cremated remains and we ask that you do not add anything either. That beautiful white trail you see when we release the cremated remains is just the ashes, nothing else. The cremated remains are beautiful and environmentally friendly in their natural form.
  When we release the cremated remains they leave a beautiful trail that can be seen from the ground. The sunnier the day, the brighter the trail. We are not sure what the physical properties are of the ashes that cause this, but it is most likely the sun reflecting off the small particles and powder as they float in the air. We do know that it is not the color of the cremated remains you are seeing. Cremated remains come in a spectrum of shades, from bright white to dark grey. No matter the color of the cremated remains, they appear white in the sky.
  We have tried to color the cremated remains with various things such as holi powder and dyes. The cremated remains will appear this color before we release them, but upon release, they are still white.

  If you add denser things to the cremated remains, such as colored sand or sugar crystals, it actually makes them appear darker in the sky, not brighter, and unfortunately, you don’t see any colors. Sand, sugar, and other similar things don’t have the same consistency or density that makes the cremated remains beautiful in the sun.

  Also, cremated remains are sterile and organic. By themselves, they are environmentally friendly. We can scatter them over the ocean or over other beautiful places and feel confident we are not impacting the environment in a negative way. When things are added to the cremated remains, we could be introducing something to the environment that is not appropriate.
  Cremated remains are simple, elegant, and safe for the environment by themselves. We request you leave them that way.