NAFA Regular Member Robert Hailey, CAFS^®, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, and His Unique Aircraft Fleet

NAFA members have unique equipment in their fleets, but few have aircraft. Specifically, few have aircraft that are devoted to as worthy a cause as that of transporting critically ill children for medical treatment.

Cook Children’s Medical Center, a not-for-profit pediatric hospital located in Fort Worth, Texas, is dedicated to treating the most complex medical conditions children face. Cook Children’s three “Teddy Bear Transport” aircraft are at the ready whenever they are needed, according to NAFA Regular Member Robert Hailey, CAFS^®, Cook Children’s Fleet Manager.

“The planes are part of the fleet, but the aircraft are managed and operated by Metro Aviation, of Shreveport, La.,” said Hailey.

“It would be great to be in charge of them but our auto fleet requires all of my focus.” Hailey is responsible for 102 vehicles. “It’s crucial that all of our transportation modes run at peak performance,” he said.

Hailey takes great pride that Teddy Bear Transport is a part of the facility’s overall fleet makeup. “Our medical center and specialty clinics excel at what they do and we receive referrals from all across the country. The aircraft are dispatched to pick up the patient and return to our hangar at the airport and then be transported by ambulance to Cook Children’s Medical Center. When we transport by helicopter, we will land on our helipad at Cook Children’s Medical Center.”

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck Houston and Corpus Christi. The Teddy Bear Transport team helped evacuate babies from neonatal units in Corpus Christi.

Hailey concluded, “All the vehicles in our fleet are here for a single mission: to provide care for children, no matter the circumstances.”

Have unique, odd, or unconventional equipment in your fleet? NAFA wants to share it with readers
and colleagues. Submit your suggested unique fleet vehicles to: editorial@nafa.org.