All without charge. It takes devoted effort by Lifeline's Director of Flight Operations to connect pilots with patients. That's because Lifeline's flight operations director must contact at least once, sometimes twice or more, the patient's social service worker, the treating clinit's social worker or physician, the patient, sometimes the patient's physician, and, ultimately, our pilot. A wide range of aircraft, from single and twin engine Cessnas to Piper Archers, Lances, and Aerostars, to Beech Bonanzas, Barons, and King Airs are used for missions. All are provided and flown by our pilot members.
None are ambulance planes, and none are equipped for medical emergencies.
Thus, patients must be ambulatory, capable of boarding and flying in a light aircraft. Most of our pilot's aircraft are equipped to fly in inclement weather. However, there's a limit to the severity of the weather their aircraft can handle. Also, none can fly above the weather as does a jet liner. So, sometimes, reluctantly, we are forced to cancel a flight even though airliners may continue to operate.