JUNE 2017 12 | FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM COVER STORY CONTINUED 2016 alone, they flew 1,019 missions that carried 2,103 boxes of blood. Smith, the CEO of Valley Metro, found out about Flights for Life by chance six years ago at Falcon Field. He was looking for a way to keep flying and was sitting outside of his hangar one day and noticed the hat of the guy renting the hangar next to him. It was a Flights for Life hat. “I had been talking about how I was frustrated that I was so busy I wasn’t able to fly as much and he said Flights for Life will give you a reason to fly,” Smith said. “And boy he was right. I never stopped.” Smith now flies two or three times missions a month to deliver boxes of blood platelets, usually to Flagstaff or Show Low. He estimates he’s done 130 mission flights, all of them out of Falcon Field, an airport established during World War II to train British Royal Air Force and American pilots. United Blood Services Driver Veronica Wallace Scott Smith on a blood run to Flagstaff for United Blood Services

JUNE 2017 FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM | 13 Smith, who wanted to go into the Air Force when he was younger, said he’s always wanted to fly. His wife gave him flight lessons for Christmas one year after he spent a good chunk of a night out with friends talking about his love for flying. “I didn’t really want to go,” Smith said. “I was busy and everything — and this friend was just persistent and said, ‘I’ll meet you out there at six I the morning, you have no excuse.’ And once I got in the air and actually started flying I just got the bug, I loved it.” Smith typically makes his blood flights early in the morning because it fits into his work schedule better. “Everyone in Flights for Life donates their plane, their time and their fuel — it’s just a great way to get out and know you’re doing good,” he said. “It’s almost like you shouldn’t get credit for doing it because I love flying, especially in Arizona. And if you’re delivering blood it just makes it special. “ The missions by Flights for Life pilots serve the need for a safe and ample blood supply in Arizona. There are many parts to the broad system of blood centers, hospitals and health care. But the key player linking it all together is United Blood Services, Arizona’s largest non- profit community blood supplier for more than 60 Arizona hospitals. United Blood Services supplies 90 percent of the hospitals in the state — and the need is always there. Nearly 500 blood donors are needed every day across Arizona and about one out of every five hospital patients need blood. Volunteer donors supply almost all blood and its components, which are tested, processed, stocked, and distributed by United Blood Services at its main facility in Scottsdale. That’s where the platelets that Smith brought to Flagstaff were separated from the whole blood, allowing several patients to benefit from a single blood donation. Platelets are often needed by patients with leukemia and cancer. The blood is often driven from Scottsdale to hospitals all across the state. Flights for Life pilots cut the travel time for the blood, and also help save United Blood Services save money on drivers, gas and vehicle maintenance. Flights for Life missions carry no cost to the nonprofit. “Without them we would have to find Everyone in Flights for Life donates their plane, their time and their fuel – it’s just a great way to get out and know you’re doing good. COVER STORY CONTINUED