Rich Pickett knows how to fly. And he knows that, more than anything, flight is what he can contribute to the ongoing relief effort in Haiti following the earthquake that devastated the island nation just a few weeks ago.

Pickett, San Diego State’s chief information officer, will go to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., this Wednesday, where he will pilot an airplane carrying up to 4,000 pounds of goods to Haiti several times a day for the next week.

Taking what's needed

“It’s amazing when you think of what’s not available,” said Pickett, who has even been scouring his own home for things he may be able to donate to the effort.

“Everything from water to antibiotics to IVs to medical supplies to food, tents for people, large tents for 30 or 40 people. Just basic necessities.”

Pickett, who has been a pilot for 32 years, is part of a group of pilots volunteering their time and airplanes to the effort in Haiti.

Volunteering their time

“There are a number of people, a large group of pilots, who have been donating their time and airplanes and fuel and so forth to transport,” Pickett said.

“It’s ranged from everywhere from relatively small four-passenger airplanes up to larger ones to some business jets.”

He said it’s a non-stop airlift effort that will likely need to go on for months. Pickett, who made similar relief trips to Baja California after that region was ravaged by hurricanes a few years ago, said he hopes to return to Haiti for a longer trip in the spring.

“I just felt like I have to do something.”

Blogging from Haiti

Pickett will be sharing his experiences during this trip on the SDSU Marketing and Communications blog.