A look at the airline that flies COVID-19 samples around the country

Your lab results fly first class after dark.

Read the whole story

 

[sheyingshi]

All that is cool, but it seems like a lot of effort and expense to me. Why don't they just put more labs around the country instead? Perhaps in the vicinity of the airports, since those seem to be convenient places for specimens to collect.

That's also a lot of effort and expense. Probably more of each.

 

[Dilbert]

All that is cool, but it seems like a lot of effort and expense to me. Why don't they just put more labs around the country instead? Perhaps in the vicinity of the airports, since those seem to be convenient places for specimens to collect.

When you factor in specialized lab space, equipment and the need for a significantly skilled labor pool, running an airplane fleet may actually be cheaper.

Small single engine plane is about $200 an hour to run. A twin about $300-$400 an hour. So yeah. Jets are of course more.

 

[real mikeb_60]

There are remarkably few aircraft in the air over America at night in this time of COVID-19. Take a look at FlightRadar24.com or FlightAware.com at 10 or 11pm in the evening and you'll see.

And odds are that the majority of those flights are FedEx flights heading to the main hub in Memphis, TN.

And UPS. Many of their overnight flights are to/from Louisville KY but they have a bunch of other hubs too. Common origins/destinations (according to Flightaware) for an airport near me are Louisville, Rockford IL, Reno NV, Columbia SC, Phoenix AZ, and Ontario and Oakland CA. UPS traffic hasn't noticeably declined during the covid outbreak.

I mostly get landing traffic, typically 767s. A300s, and 757s. The 767s are very quiet most of the time, the A300s the loudest. But none are as loud as the military flights during the day (and the occasional Kalitta or Atlas 747 from an air base about a 15 minute flight away - as a former AFB the airport still has an Air Guard presence). UPS has a slug of flights that arrive between 0300-0600, but for some reason i sleep through them most of the time even with the windows open.

The short-distance air freight thing is common to more than just medical, though that seems to be a big part of the overnight traffic. The airport near me is dominated by "Boxer" which apparently works with UPS, given when their flights arrive and leave. Typical aircraft types are Cessna 208 & 402. The turboprop Caravan is a very common prop freighter, for many of the same reasons as the PC12, though it's not as fast as the PC12.

 

[viridianvex]

All that is cool, but it seems like a lot of effort and expense to me. Why don't they just put more labs around the country instead? Perhaps in the vicinity of the airports, since those seem to be convenient places for specimens to collect.

It is most likely cheaper, provided the company is large enough. At the same time, I think the for profit nature of the American healthcare system has been a barrier to our testing response. Case in point: my significant other's mother works for a large healthcare company. They've been buying up all the clinics in the area (Indiana) and acquired one of the two major hospitals in the region late last year. When they did so, they fired all the medical lab techs, opting instead to send tests to a centralized lab in Ohio.

Meanwhile, her daughter, who is preparing to enter clinicals to complete her studies to become a lab tech, faces uncertain career prospects, despite issues with this nation's testing capacity. When my sister in law came down with a fever last month (who works for a clinic owned be said company) it took a full two weeks for her to get test results. Don't get me wrong, I think planes are likely an important part of getting timely results to maximize the output of our testing facilities, but at the same time I'm left with the impression that our system has prioritized efficiency in terms of cost cutting measures at the expense of actual patient outcomes.

 

[Guido Vetus]

Quest pilots fly single-pilot IFR (instrument flight rules) operations.

Also endearingly nomenclatured as "I Follow Railroads"; a practice that's known to have bailed any number of pilots out of rapidly dwindling fuel supply predicaments.

Actually, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) are jokingly referred to IFR: "I follow roads", (rarely) "I follow railroads", and, in Alaska, "I follow rivers". True IFR flight is done without ground reference.

 

[Dr Gitlin]

Eric Tegler emailed me with a clarification about the number of samples per plane:

Some folks in the comments were asking whether 76 cooler representing 76 patients is right or not.

They're right to ask and the answer is a bit of both. I've just checked with Quest Diagnostics and the coolers do indeed frequently house many samples. So 76 coolers could actually represent thousands of patients.

But if a cooler is loaded with a tumor sample, it is usually housed singly according to Quest. If multiple tumor specimens are heading for the same lab, you could indeed have a plane with 76 coolers (or 50, or 20) representing 76 patients.

Please relay this in the comments section and give everyone my thanks for reading.

 

[RomeoWhiskey]

In comparison, both Labcorp (the second largest private testing firm in the country) and the Mayo Clinic just use FedEx for their sample delivery. (....source: I've worked for both)

Labcorp also has a fleet of airplanes (8 according to Google). Their callsign of "Skylab" is one of my favorites. Their ICAO identifier is SKQ.

I'm sure they all use delivery services as well.

 

[ColdWetDog]

..General discussion on the merits of turboprops

The PC-12 is turning out to be the Medivac plane of choice among a number of firms. Good performance, good support and the ability to take Super Sized patients without too much fuss.

It is hard to impossible to get a very obese patient into a Lear Jet on gurney. The PC-12 is *worlds* better. One of the tools we keep in the ER is a tape measure for abdominal girth. Too big means you don't go into the plane. I've had to commandeer Coast Guard C-130's for extra large people. And boy is that a PITA. For everyone.

Neat plane.

 

[Dilbert]

Quest pilots fly single-pilot IFR (instrument flight rules) operations.

Also endearingly nomenclatured as "I Follow Railroads"; a practice that's known to have bailed any number of pilots out of rapidly dwindling fuel supply predicaments.

Actually, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) are jokingly referred to IFR: "I follow roads", (rarely) "I follow railroads", and, in Alaska, "I follow rivers". True IFR flight is done without ground reference.

Yep. Airliners are always IFR. GA (general aviation) can be either. IFR in GA is typically used for trips. Let's go to Powell Books but weather is wretched is an IFR flight plan. If it's clear weather all the way to destination, or is just a local sightseeing flight then we can do VFR.

 

[Dilbert]

..General discussion on the merits of turboprops

The PC-12 is turning out to be the Medivac plane of choice among a number of firms. Good performance, good support and the ability to take Super Sized patients without too much fuss.

It is hard to impossible to get a very obese patient into a Lear Jet on gurney. The PC-12 is *worlds* better. One of the tools we keep in the ER is a tape measure for abdominal girth. Too big means you don't go into the plane. I've had to commandeer Coast Guard C-130's for extra large people. And boy is that a PITA. For everyone.

Neat plane.

There is a sports skydiving outfit operating at S43 in Washington. Their plane is PC-12. Several times I've been there taxiing or in the pattern and watched them take off. By the time I was lining up on the runway mere 5 minutes later they had already climbed to altitude, guys have jumped out, and the PC-12 was already landing back having beaten the sky divers back to the ground. It's fricken incredible.

 

[markdev]

A correction for the plane in the first picture, N702QD is not a PC-12, it is a TBM-700. You can compare and contrast it with the PC-12 in the hanger picture.

Also a PC-12 fan =)

 

[real mikeb_60]

..General discussion on the merits of turboprops

The PC-12 is turning out to be the Medivac plane of choice among a number of firms. Good performance, good support and the ability to take Super Sized patients without too much fuss.

It is hard to impossible to get a very obese patient into a Lear Jet on gurney. The PC-12 is *worlds* better. One of the tools we keep in the ER is a tape measure for abdominal girth. Too big means you don't go into the plane. I've had to commandeer Coast Guard C-130's for extra large people. And boy is that a PITA. For everyone.

Neat plane.

There is a sports skydiving outfit operating at S43 in Washington. Their plane is PC-12. Several times I've been there taxiing or in the pattern and watched them take off. By the time I was lining up on the runway mere 5 minutes later they had already climbed to altitude, guys have jumped out, and the PC-12 was already landing back having beaten the sky divers back to the ground. It's fricken incredible.

PC12 is the favorite plane for the high-zoot airlines in California at least. The ones that operate between GA airports to be closer to the customers (of money and power) and have fewer TSA hassles. PC12 can handle short runways and is fast enough to be competitive with bizjets on 400-600 miles runs, and it's big and comfortable enough inside for the intended demographic.

 

[numerobis]

Quest pilots fly single-pilot IFR (instrument flight rules) operations.

Also endearingly nomenclatured as "I Follow Railroads"; a practice that's known to have bailed any number of pilots out of rapidly dwindling fuel supply predicaments.

Actually, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) are jokingly referred to IFR: "I follow roads", (rarely) "I follow railroads", and, in Alaska, "I follow rivers". True IFR flight is done without ground reference.

Yep. Airliners are always IFR. GA (general aviation) can be either. IFR in GA is typically used for trips. Let's go to Powell Books but weather is wretched is an IFR flight plan. If it's clear weather all the way to destination, or is just a local sightseeing flight then we can do VFR.

Airliners are *almost* always IFR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baAC49s-Wyw

Certainly with passengers it's always IFR; that was a repo flight that went VFR from JFK to LGA.

 

[georgedarroch]

..General discussion on the merits of turboprops

The PC-12 is turning out to be the Medivac plane of choice among a number of firms. Good performance, good support and the ability to take Super Sized patients without too much fuss.

It is hard to impossible to get a very obese patient into a Lear Jet on gurney. The PC-12 is *worlds* better. One of the tools we keep in the ER is a tape measure for abdominal girth. Too big means you don't go into the plane. I've had to commandeer Coast Guard C-130's for extra large people. And boy is that a PITA. For everyone.

Neat plane.

There is a sports skydiving outfit operating at S43 in Washington. Their plane is PC-12. Several times I've been there taxiing or in the pattern and watched them take off. By the time I was lining up on the runway mere 5 minutes later they had already climbed to altitude, guys have jumped out, and the PC-12 was already landing back having beaten the sky divers back to the ground. It's fricken incredible.

They're a great aircraft with a high rate of climb (1900ft/min). They are used extensively by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Australia for aeromedical work, and their short field performance and flexible design are part of the reason. Having the world's most widely used turboprop engine in the front (the PT6A) doesn't hurt either, as it keeps maintenance costs reasonable.

 

[georgedarroch]

A correction for the plane in the first picture, N702QD is not a PC-12, it is a TBM-700. You can compare and contrast it with the PC-12 in the hanger picture.

Also a PC-12 fan =)

Markdev is correct, the lead image is of a Socata TBM 700, which is similar in configuration (though smaller) and has the same engine.

https://www.jetphotos.com/registration/N702QD

 

[beerhound]

A correction for the plane in the first picture, N702QD is not a PC-12, it is a TBM-700. You can compare and contrast it with the PC-12 in the hanger picture.

Also a PC-12 fan =)

Markdev is correct, the lead image is of a Socata TBM 700, which is similar in configuration (though smaller) and has the same engine.

https://www.jetphotos.com/registration/N702QD

Yeah, the TBM is quite the nice aircraft too, smaller but faster. The PC-12 is where my money would go if I ever hit the lottery. Pilatus recently announced an update to the line, the PC-12 NGX. Looking at the new features, it amazes me the airliner like "heavy iron" features included in that machine. I also believe it's the first time world wide that they have pull a full FADEC system on a PC6 engine giving auto throttle and single lever power control like a jet. 4 large primary displays and a touch screen interface for the avionics... can you tell I'm drooling?

https://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/en/fly/pc-12

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2dexl_oxg8

I know those links are marketing material, but it still impresses me how many advanced features that were barely beginning to be introduced into airliners in the 80s, are making it into single engine aircraft. This thing can be flown single pilot!

 

[Forever_Confused]

I rarely, if ever, comment. I just wanted to say I thought this was a great story on a topic I've never thought about. Particularly timely, too. This is the kind of stuff I subscribed for and will happily re-subscribe for in a year. Keep this content coming.

 

[panton41]

Quest pilots fly single-pilot IFR (instrument flight rules) operations.

Also endearingly nomenclatured as "I Follow Railroads"; a practice that's known to have bailed any number of pilots out of rapidly dwindling fuel supply predicaments.

I read an account of how a Marine Corp striker fighter pilot got his moniker "Road."

He was performing a solo flight outside of Kingsville, Texas when all of the power went down at once - no AC, no DC, no avionics, but at least the engine was running. He eventually identified US Hwy 77 and followed it back into town, visually declared an emergency and landed.

The other pilots were impressed at the quick thinking, but, in Navy and Marine tradition of insulting call signs, teased him by naming him "Road."

 

[i662i812r11]

Nevermind

 

[woopla]

Airliners are *almost* always IFR.

Certainly with passengers it's always IFR; that was a repo flight that went VFR from JFK to LGA.

Can't fly VFR over 18,000ft anyway. That's class Alpha airspace, and it is IFR only. So yeah an airliner could go JFK->LGA VFR (no need to climb that high given the distance), but JFK->LAX would be a bad idea, since jets are so much more efficient >> 18,000ft.

 

[numerobis]

Airliners are *almost* always IFR.

Certainly with passengers it's always IFR; that was a repo flight that went VFR from JFK to LGA.

Can't fly VFR over 18,000ft anyway. That's class Alpha airspace, and it is IFR only. So yeah an airliner could go JFK->LGA VFR (no need to climb that high given the distance), but JFK->LAX would be a bad idea, since jets are so much more efficient >> 18,000ft.

I've heard of one (1) airliner flying VFR, once, and I linked to it. The ATC were quizzical.

The only reason why is that the flight plan got lost in the cracks, and that only got noticed when the flight was ready to go -- which would have caused a substantial delay.

 

[Dilbert]

Airliners are *almost* always IFR.

Certainly with passengers it's always IFR; that was a repo flight that went VFR from JFK to LGA.

Can't fly VFR over 18,000ft anyway. That's class Alpha airspace, and it is IFR only. So yeah an airliner could go JFK->LGA VFR (no need to climb that high given the distance), but JFK->LAX would be a bad idea, since jets are so much more efficient >> 18,000ft.

There was more wrong with that statement but it didn't bother me. I hate internet pissing matches anyway.

Airline operations are part 121 and are always IFR. A ferry flight had probably operated under part 135 and yah stayed below 18,000 feet.

 

[atomsmith]

There are remarkably few aircraft in the air over America at night in this time of COVID-19. Take a look at FlightRadar24.com or FlightAware.com at 10 or 11pm in the evening and you'll see.

Except that the screenshot was taken at 10:50 AM UTC, which is 6:50 AM Eastern Time. The skies are considerably busier at 11 PM Eastern Time with both cargo and passenger aircraft.

 

[real mikeb_60]

There are remarkably few aircraft in the air over America at night in this time of COVID-19. Take a look at FlightRadar24.com or FlightAware.com at 10 or 11pm in the evening and you'll see.

Except that the screenshot was taken at 10:50 AM UTC, which is 6:50 AM Eastern Time. The skies are considerably busier at 11 PM Eastern Time with both cargo and passenger aircraft.

I think Flightaware must be covering everything showing on radar now. Commercial passenger traffic *has* dropped off in my area, though cargo (UPS, FedEx, various operators for Amazon, etc.) and private traffic is as robust as ever. The skies even seem more crowded now with Cessnas and choppers and what have you. They used to stick to showing only stuff on an IFR flight plan; now, the only limitation appears to be flight following.

 

[woopla]

I think Flightaware must be covering everything showing on radar now. Commercial passenger traffic *has* dropped off in my area, though cargo (UPS, FedEx, various operators for Amazon, etc.) and private traffic is as robust as ever. The skies even seem more crowded now with Cessnas and choppers and what have you. They used to stick to showing only stuff on an IFR flight plan; now, the only limitation appears to be flight following.

That might also be because of ADS-B, since this has to be on all the time.

 

[Thatguy2021]

I wished they would outlaw PC-12's because they do meet the noise level requirements of the FAA. Alot of PC-12 pilots love to fly low and loud.