Medical Evacuation Aircraft

Within moments of a call, Air Ambulance Card staffers are on the phone with flight coordinators stationed at one of 15 base locations around the world. Our provider network has aircraft stationed within 2 hours of any location in the U.S.

Our network includes more then 50 dedicated medical aircraft, including jets equipped for two, four and up to five patients. We deploy aircraft and medical staff based on the needs of the patient. The type of aircraft may range from a five-patient Gulfstream III to a super-fast Lear 36 that can bring a single patient home from across the globe.

The medical evacuation aircraft are permanently outfitted with the latest medical transport technology, typically including advanced cardiac and trauma life support medications, controlled substances for patient comfort, transport ventilators, cardiac monitor/defibrillators, oxygen supplies, IV medication pumps and intubation equipment. Additional equipment such as traction splints and intra-aortic balloon pumps may also be loaded aboard to meet specialized patient needs.

All of our domestic providers are accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), the gold seal for air ambulance operators. Our international providers based in the United States are also CAMTS accredited and are Certified Air Carriers by the Department of Defense. Foreign providers must be certified by the FAA for operation in U.S. airspace. Most providers also belong to the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).

Pilots within our networks meet the same standards for licensure, training and certification as airlines. They are proficient in IFR operations. Even though pilots may have years of experience, they maintain a strict regimen of recurrent flight training based on the type of aircraft they fly.

Medical Evacuation Team

From the moment a sick or injured member calls Air Ambulance Card, we are in contact with our Medical Director, who coordinates care with the medical flight teams. The make-up of the medical team on board is dictated by the needs of the patient.

Critical care transport nurses are RN’s and are fully certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) and trained in Flight Physiology. Nurses may also be accompanied by certified and experienced paramedics or critical care transport specialists. Transport of critical patients may also require a doctor on the flight.