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A RACE AGAINST TIME MADE EASIER THANKS TO AIR TRAVEL
According to data from the national transplant centre of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, in total over 7,000 items — organs, tissues, empty special containers, or medical teams — were carried on over 4,000 trips in the country for transplant purposes during 2012. Of this, over 99% was carried by air. The members of Brazil’s national airline association, ABEAR, play a central role in this effort. Avianca, Azul/Trip, Gol, and TAM together carried around 98% of these items, free-of-charge. The project has been supported since 2001, when 15 airlines entered into a co-operation agreement with the Ministry of Health. Since then, the agreement has been revised to facilitate access to flight schedule information in Brazil and strengthen communication channels between airlines and
[ABEAR]
health authorities. The organs carried are used in varied and complex surgeries, including procedures involving cardiac, corneas, eyeballs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, spleen, bones, lungs and skin. As soon as availability for donation is announced, often a race against time begins to perform the extraction and re-implantation. This is where airlines are invaluable, with their ability to shorten distances and save precious minutes, whether by carrying medical teams and supplies to potential donors or by ensuring that organs and tissues reach the recipients. Aircraft used for this purpose are given priority landing and take-off and the special containers with organs are safely carried in the cabin under the care of the chief flight attendant or pilot.
ONE-THIRD OF AIRPORTS WORLDWIDE, MAINLY IN REMOTE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT MEANS, RELY ON TURBOPROP AIRCRAFT FOR SERVICE.
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