Blog | Air ambulance | Repatriation from abroad (2024)

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Over the years, groundbreaking technologies in the field of medical flight transport have been revolutionizing patient care on a global scale. What life-changing advancements are shaping the future of healthcare delivery through air ambulances?

What you need to know about medical flight transport and innovations in this field:

• Medical flight transport involves airplanes as well as helicopters and is used when ground ambulances are inefficient.
• Significant evolution has occurred in medical flight transport in recent years but the purpose remains to save life fast.
• Innovations in medical flight transport include private transportation options, isolation pods, pediatric incubators, ECMO devices, and sea-level flights.
• Medical flight transport saves lives by providing rapid access to healthcare facilities and expedited treatment worldwide.
• Our multilingual team, available 24/7, will provide you with a non-binding quotation for a medical flight after a free consultation.

What is medical flight transport?

Medical flight transport encompasses both airplanes (fixed-wing) and helicopters (rotor-wing), which are utilized to transport patients where ground ambulances may not be the most efficient option. Time is of the essence in increasing the survival rate of a patient, particularly for conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and severe trauma. Various factors come into play when choosing which air medical transport to use. Helicopters are utilized for short-distance transport due to their speed and agility, while airplanes are usually deployed for longer distances, spanning between countries and states.

How has medical flight transport changed in recent years?

In recent years, medical flight transport has evolved significantly. Although its appearance has changed through the years, its purpose remains the same: to save lives fast, a legacy that’s been upheld for decades.

Some milestones in aeromedical transport history:

• Early 1970s: Rise of civilian air ambulance service.
• 1980s: Rapid expansion of air ambulance companies in the United States, Canada, and Germany.
• Early 2000s: Organization of air ambulance services by France’s emergency medical services.
• 2019 to 2021: Shift in medical repatriation as commercial flights were grounded due to the pandemic. Adoption of modern medical technology in air ambulances to address Covid-19 challenges.
• Present: Integration of medevac services into urban landscapes while continuing to serve remote regions.

What are some innovations in the medical flight transport field?

Innovations thrive in the medical flight transport field as technology continues to advance. Indeed, breakthroughs are emerging daily. Amongst the groundbreaking innovations, there is the development of:

• Private transportation: this is possible thanks to the use of the smallest piston aircraft to the most sophisticated jets.
• Isolation pods: These were tailored to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like Covid-19. They ensure the patient’s safety and minimize contact with others. This facilitates examination and treatment during transportation.
• Pediatric incubators: These are revolutionizing neonatal care, offering premature or critically ill babies a conducive environment to thrive and recover. During the medical flight, the child will be accompanied by a specialized doctor.
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation devices: The ECMO device, which is quite rare, stands as a beacon of hope for patients grappling with cardiac or respiratory failure as it offers a lifeline through advanced life support modalities. The latter partially or completely takes over the function of the damaged lung or heart, providing vital support and paving the way for a potential recovery.
• Sea-level flight: the ICU-equipped ambulance jet is granted clearance to fly below the normal cruising altitude. This precautionary measure helps mitigate the effects of increased air pressure at higher altitudes, particularly beneficial for patients with specific lung and brain conditions.

How can our medical flight transport services save lives?

Medical flight transport services play an important role in saving lives by providing patients with faster access to healthcare facilities and expedited treatment.

Medical Air Service can provide you with air ambulances anywhere in the world. Our multilingual staff are quite knowledgeable regarding the local customs of numerous countries. Thanks to that, we can easily communicate with the authorities in foreign countries and act quickly. In most cases, we can arrange for a patient transport from a foreign country on short notice.

If you opt for our medical flights, you will have access to a specialized physician, nurse, or a paramedic during the trip. The professional will stay at your side to monitor your vitals and provide you with first-aid treatment promptly if needed. To do that, the medical crew will make use of the ICU equipment available onboard.

If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to air ambulance flights, you can request to have amedical escort accompany you on a scheduled airliner. It should be noted that most of the time, medically accompanied flights take place in business class for increased privacy and comfort. However, if the patient’s health condition is stable and it is a non-emergency case, economy class can be considered.

How to book a medical flight transport?

At Medical Air Service, the process for booking a medical flight is straightforward. You will first need to contact us and send us the necessary documentation. Our aviation experts will assess your situation and provide you with a comprehensive plan tailored to your needs. Our members will make sure that there is clear communication regarding the costs. Our main work ethic is to be transparent and honest! In addition, we always do our best to ensure the patient’s safety and comfort while flying.

Contact us for the organization of a medical flight

If you need a medical flight, get in touch with our team by phone, email, or contact form. Our team members are available 24/7. We’ll discuss your specific needs, during a free consultation and provide you with a non-binding quotation. Leave the logistics to us and focus on your recovery!