Page 8 - Dec 23

Pilots for Patients often fly the same passengers multiple times. Mindy has endured years of bat- tling cancer with tumors in her bones, brain and lungs. This photo shows her on the left with her mom and pilot Wayne Petrus celebrating a “no cancer present” report when flying back to Monroe, Louisiana, in November 2023 from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.
at facilities farther than the 350 miles are set up with a relay flight beginning with PFP and handing off to one of their companion volunteer organizations, such as Angel Flight, that will take the patient to their destination.
Founders Petrus along with Thomas and his wife, Sharon, continue to fly for Pilots for Patients and they serve on the board of directors. Board members of PFP are not compensated, and pilots who fly patients for PFP are also not reimbursed for their time, aircraft or fuel. The organization does not receive funding from state or federal government agencies. All monies donated to PFP are used to pay for two employees, hangar rent at Monroe Regional Airport (KMLU), utilities, office upkeep, recruiting and patient outreach activities along with numerous other expenses to operate successfully.
Pilots who have completed the paperwork to become a volunteer pilot can see what missions are being requested and sign up for ones they are available to fly. There’s no requirement to fly a certain number of flights. Petrus said
PFP has about 200 pilots in its database and around 60 who fly regularly. “Some fly two trips a year and some fly over 50 trips a year, and we need all of them,” he said.
Pilots are based throughout the state to cover Louisiana’s main cities and to provide service to surrounding states as well.
First time patients watch a video on what to expect on the flight then receive a handmade quilt and goodie bag. “We try to make it a very pleasant experience,” Petrus said. “The patients are so gracious because they know that it takes a lot of resources to make this happen during their time of need. The services we provide aren’t based on the finances of the patient. If a patient has cancer and needs to go to MD Anderson, sometimes a private airplane is their only choice. They can’t take the airline because of the fear of catching something while their immune system is depressed and, for some, they are not healthy enough to make the six-hour drive.”
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6 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
DECEMBER 2023