Mercy Medical Airlift's Ed Boyer has found that only about 40 percent of patients needing air transportation are able to use general aviation craft. In some cases, patients are able to use empty seats on business jets. In 1981, pilot Patricia Blum and Avis franchise owner Jay Weinberg, both recovered cancer patients, helped found the Corporate Angel Network. Since then, CAN has arranged more than 11,000 flights and boasts access to some 1,500 aircraft from more than 500 companies. CAN has limited itself to helping cancer patients, however, and because the seats and destination of flights depend on what's available at the time, the organization can fill only about a third of the requests it receives.
Eligibility depends on the patient's circumstances, condition, age, location, and destination.
Information about each program can be difficult to find. To help patients sort through the services available, Mercy Medical Airlift operates a 24-hour hotline for those seeking information on various pilot groups, corporate programs, and airline resources. All rights reserved.