Generally the individuals who utilize our services have limited financial resources or are receiving diagnosis, treatment or follow-up for various types of acute or chronic illnesses or conditions that make it either financially impossible or otherwise infeasible to use public commercial or private charter transportation.
In order to qualify for a PALS flight, passengers must:
- Have financial or compelling need – Please keep in mind that our volunteer pilots donate their time, aircraft, and all expenses, assuming a significant cost. Therefore, we suggest you exhaust other possibilities first.
- We require a minimum of 5 business days notice prior to the desired date of flight. However, we might consider a flight with less notice given, which would be approved on a case to case to basis.
- Be medically stable as verified by a Medical Release Form completed by your physician or Social Worker. Determination of the patients ability to travel in general aviation aircraft is entirely up to the patient and their physician
- Be ambulatory, sit upright in a standard aircraft seat and wear a standard seatbelt and be able to get in and out of the plane with limited assistance.
- A child who has reached their 2nd birthday must be restrained either in an approved aircraft seat with safety belt fastened or an approved child restraint system; the child may not be held by a parent.
- Be able to fly in a non-pressurized general aviation aircraft, with limited seating and cargo space. We do not provide Air Ambulance Services and cannot accommodate a stretcher.
- The normal distance for a single leg of a flight is approximately 200-600 miles. If your request is for a longer distance, requiring more than one leg of a flight, we would look to link flights with a partnering organization.
- Be able to reschedule or cancel the appointment, or have alternative transportation available in case of cancellation due to weather, pilot need, or other circumstances that might come up
- Be responsible for their own medications
- Not have a communicable disease
- There is no smoking permitted during the flight
- Baggage limit of 25 lbs per person, and luggage should be soft sided, no suitcases or metal frames. Strollers, walkers, and wheelchairs must be collapsible. All medical equipment must be declared and weight recorded prior to mission. Oversized luggage and adult wheelchairs will NOT fit in a small aircraft
- Provide Department of Transportation approved supplemental oxygen and medical assistance (if required)
- Sign a liability of release form and provide Photo I.D.
- Compassion flights are accepted on a case by case basis. Passengers with a financial need may request transportation to be with someone going through a medical event or to attend a conference about their illness.
- All Compassion Missions must be reviewed by the Missions Team
- After much consideration, the PALS board has made it a policy NOT to fly individuals to funerals
