An NPO aiming to test operate a ``Doctor Jet,'' a small jet plane that transports critically ill children to distant medical institutions, has revealed that the funds raised through crowdfunding fell far short of its goal.
The test flight will begin next month as planned, but as the number of flights will be reduced, we are appealing for more donations.
The Japan Serious Patient Jet Transport Network, an Osaka-based NPO, uses jet aircraft that can fly longer distances and carry heavier medical equipment than helicopters, and transport seriously ill children from areas without hospitals that can provide advanced treatment to large cities. We aim to operate a ``Doctor Jet'' that will transport people to hospitals, and we have been conducting a crowdfunding campaign since November last year to raise funds for a test flight.
However, at a report meeting held in Tokyo on the 5th, NPO Chairman Norihide Fukushima revealed that the amount raised this time was just over 15 million yen, far below the goal of 100 million yen.
Test flights are scheduled to begin next month as planned, but Chairman Fukushima said, ``If things continue like this, we will have to significantly reduce the number of flights, so we would like to ask for further financial cooperation.''
Although crowdfunding has ended, the NPO will now accept donations directly.
The NPO originally planned to conduct test flights based at Osaka Airport, but changed its base to Aichi Prefecture's Nagoya Airport, where jet aircraft can be operated at a lower cost, and actually loaded medical equipment to verify safety. We are currently preparing for the flight.