At the 2007 Cryonics Conference in Fort Lauderdale a prominent researcher said he had examined fresh rabbit brain that had been perfused with organ preservation solution and held at 0ºC for 24 hours. This is about the best we can hope for if we deanimate far from a cryonics facility. But his examination showed the fine brain structure still looked bad. In such a case we can only hope for nanotechnology to repair the damage. This is not optimal.

(Since I first wrote this I have heard that perfusing the fixative at high pressure may fix this problem, or possibly using a different fixative may do it. If this is so it is very gratifying.  I think SA is a fine organization and it is a good idea to cool the patient rapidly and keep oxygen flowing as long as possible. We just want to be sure these efforts are not in vain.) [

To me this shows that should make every effort to deanimate next to CI or Alcor. I have been studying this option and learned encouraging things.

We need to get there. Most people think that's the hard part. So I called U.S. Air Ambulance -- Usairambulance.net, (800) 948-1214 -- where a helpful, intelligent and very knowledgeable gentleman answered all questions.

You may travel by yourself provided you don't look so bad that the airline fears they will have to divert the plane when you get sick. If you look too bad the gate agent may not let you board. A frail old person in a wheelchair is OK. But if you're alone, flight attendants will not help you get to the bathroom, due to liability if you should fall. The airline will move you around the airport in a cart and on and off the plane in a wheelchair. Obviously this is cheapest. You can also bring a family member to assist you. You cannot get oxygen this way. First class is an option -- big seats and nearby lavatory.

Next cheapest is a ground ambulance with attendant. They give the example of a trip from Florida to New York in 20 hours for $6500-$8500. The patient is lying down and may be on oxygen, but if he is on a ventilator the ground ambulance trip is limited to 200 miles. However, as noted later, being on a ventilator probably means the brain is already deteriorating, so one should go before this stage.

For air escort on a commercial jet, the trip is just six hours but the patient cannot need more than 3 liters of oxygen per minute and must be able to sit up and partially support himself. This is required because patients must sit up during takeoffs and landings. The cost is $5500-8500. The company does a lot of this money. They document the patient's condition and clear it with the airline so he is not turned away. They set it up for the airline to provide oxygen. Their nurse can administer an IV. On overseas flights they use first-class tickets for the added room (they may change a diaper in place) and proximity to a lavatory, and so the patient can recline the seat flat and lie down except for takeoff and landing.

A step up from this is a stretcher on a commercial jet in cases where the patient can't sit up. It’s about twice as expensive, but you can have everything except a ventilator.

By a light plane, an air-ambulance Cessna, our Florida – New York trip is four hours and $8000-12,000. Oxygen, ventilator, patient lying down, comatose -- all OK.

Or it's two to three hours by jet air ambulance, $13,000-17,000. This all this seems feasible and not too expensive. After all, it's $5000 if you expire at home and the mortuary ships you, and $60,000 for SA.

I got more good news. This company brings people from Europe all the time. Usually within 24 hours they can get a special visa provided to you are going to die with family members (even extended families) or are coming for medical care. The spokesman thought it would be the same if you were going to a hospice. From Europe, air ambulance is expensive, $50,000 - $60,000. Commercial flights, especially unescorted, seem preferable. Ground ambulance is not available.J The spokesman also mentioned that you couldn't fly commercially with a communicable disease, like incurable TB. Of course.

Costs from Europe:

Air ambulance, London-Detroit, $50-60,000

Stretcher on commercial airliner, same, $30,000

Nurse escort, first-class, oxygen etc., $15,000

Nurse escort from Australia, $25,000

A friend died of a brain tumor. When the hospital could do no more they suggested he go home to die, which he did, and he expired about twelve hours later. Time enough to fly to a facility. I've seen some other gradual deaths due to cancer and heart failure, and in most cases it would have been easy to get to a facility, even unescorted up to a few days before the end.

There are also hospices near both CI and Alcor, and I'm sure that both would arrange transport from the airport. Deanimation may be fairly predictable, and may legally be hastened by the patient deciding that the oxygen should be turned off. I think his medical representative, pursuant to his living well, can do the same.

Thus we have a good chance of flying to a facility cheaply, and staying for a day or a week or two at a hospice or a private apartment with a hospice nurse, and upon deanimation receiving immediate pronouncement and swift cooling, perfusion and vitrification.

If one flies alone or with a family member from Europe, I asked if U.S. Air Ambulance would for a fee help with those fast visas. The answer was yes, and not only with that but with ticketing etc. "Talk to us. " All in all the company was helpful, flexible and reasonable, but I must point out that a Google search brings up many such companies so this may not be the best. And no, I don't own stock in it. That said, I like these people.

From the US Air Ambulance page:

Pricing

It is always our goal at U.S. Air Ambulance to provide the highest quality service at the lowest possible cost. Price is determined based primarily upon the medical condition of the patient, because this will determine the type of aircraft or ground transportation that will be utilized, the medical supplies to be included, the medical team to be transported, the destination and the urgency of travel.

Our Flight Coordinators will talk to you about some of these issues and provide a quote over the phone. In non-emergency situations, we will also gladly send you a written quote explaining all services provided. The price quoted to you is the final price – there are no hidden costs.

Listed below are a few of the variables considered when we determine a price for your specific trip. Prices are effective January 2007. This is not a definitive listing, but can give you an idea of the cost of our air and ground ambulance services.

Aircraft: $3 - $12 per mile, depending on the type of aircraft used

Standard Medical Equipment and Supplies: $450 per flight (Isolettes and balloon pumps are extra)

Maintenance: $600 per take-off

Ground Ambulance: $500 plus $14 per mile

Wheelchair Vans: $180 plus $3 per mile

Overnight Charges: $300 per crew member per night (some Asian locations are higher)

Preparation Costs: $800 (Includes medical evaluation, telephone and aircraft preparation)

European Air Traffic Control: $2,500

International Fees/Permits: $800 - $3,800 (You will be billed our actual charges for this)

Level I: $800 (Critical Care Nurse or Paramedic)

Level II: $1,600 (Critical Care Nurse and Paramedic)

Level III: $2,200 (Respiratory Therapist plus Critical Care Nurse or Paramedic)

Level IV: $4,100 (Doctor plus Critical Care Nurse and Paramedic)

Here are approximate times and costs from Florida to New York depending on the type of transport requested:

20. hours $6,500 - $8,500

Air Escort (patient is sitting)

6. Hours $5,500 - $8,500

4. Hours $8,000 - $12,000

3. Hours $13,000 - $15,000

2. Hours $14,000 - $17,000

Going across the country, from California to Virginia for example, the time and costs would look something like this:

Train Escort (patient is lying down)

4. Days $11,000 - $12,000

Air Escort (patient is sitting)

8. Hours $7,500 - $9,500

Cessna 10 Hours $13,000 - $17,000

8. Hours $16,000 - $22,000

4. Hours $20,000 - $28,000