Petaluma, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 12/06/2013 -- Transplant Transportation Services, Inc. (“TTSI”) has announced that they are involved in research and development to utilize Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for the transportation of donor organs for transplant as part of their subsidiary company, DonorLogic™. TTSI currently utilizes private aircraft in the Part 135, on demand charter environment for the movement of teams, organs and related staff to serve its OPO and Transplant Center partners based primarily on the west coast.
“Two and a half years ago I thought, ‘why can’t we move organs via UAVs?’” said Scott Pritchard, President of TTSI. So began the investigative process as to what would be entailed in making the process safe, viable and sustainable within the ever-changing aviation landscape. “The aviation industry is changing more rapidly than ever in terms of technology, airspace use and regulation. Flying from point A to point B will be the easy part of the process. Managing the other factors will be our greatest challenge and where we face our greatest learning curve. We’ve invested in a personal UAV platform to begin working with the technology and better understand the possibilities and challenges that we will undoubtedly face.” When asked why Pritchard insists on using the term “UAV” versus “drone” he quickly replied, “The media has tied the term drone primarily to war. We are in the business of saving lives. These machines have the ability to help us.”
The potential use of UAVs continues to grow in industries ranging from agri-business to wildlife tracking. TTSI believes that the need for swift regulatory action is required in order to keep up with the constant innovation within the industry. For instance, Pritchard believes that Amazon.com’s recent announcement surrounding the use of “drones” for delivery is of enormous benefit given Amazon’s global market influence and ability to help gain media attention on command. “They just made it much more public and personal. This helps bring issues to the forefront regarding regulation and public perception. That is a win for the entire UAV industry. I watched the Bezos’ 60 Minutes interview and was thrilled,” said Pritchard. “This past year we’ve spent time at various industry conferences and meetings, including in Washington D.C., learning about integration of UAVs into the airspace. We’ve also started to call on the UAV manufacturers to solicit their input regarding the safe transportation of organs. It is the way many things will be delivered in the future. We’re on the front line of this transplant transportation industry now and we intend to play a significant role in guiding the use of the next generation of medical transportation technology. We feel that our primary OPO partner and our transplant center partners will be very supportive after our trials are complete.” Pritchard readily admits that the successful trials are potentially years off due the regulatory changes that must occur.
“Reducing safety risks, increasing operating room utilization through flexible timing, surgeon cooperation and collaboration and significant cost savings are just the beginning of what we all have so much to gain from the use of these machines. Our partners are innovators and leaders in their respective fields. There is no doubt that through working closely with them; the benefits will change transplant, and potentially the entire healthcare industry.”
For more information please contact TTSI at (707) 773-1355 or visit http://www.transplanttransportationservices.com
About TTSI
TTSI was formed in 2008 in response to the need for dedicated transportation solutions for organ transplant teams. We bring years of experience in air transportation and logistics to serve the needs of hospitals, transplant centers and Organ Procurement Organizations.
We enjoy long-term relationships with some of the nation's most respected hospitals and OPOs. Our clients challenge us and inspire us. In support of their work, we strive for operational excellence and relentless improvement.
TTSI is unique. We are not an aircraft operation. This gives our clients a distinct advantage. Our energy and assets are not tied up in aircraft management. We can direct our resources into better systems, processes and technology. When we schedule a flight and select aircraft, our priorities are safety, speed and cost-effectiveness.