What medical equipment is available in an Air Ambulance?
When you choose to repatriate your loved one on an ambulance flight, you want them to fly safe and comfortably. That's why we make sure the right equipment is on board.
The right medical equipment
An Air Ambulance is specially modified to enable medical care for a patient while in transit. Our airplanes are furnished with their own ICU environment, with all the latest equipment and life-saving technology. You have more space for the patient and medical team than they would have on a commercial flight, so there is a better way of giving the right treatments or procedures. Do you want to know more what's inside an Air Ambulance? We will tell you more about the medical equipment in this blog.
Essential care facilities in the air
The Lifeport or Spectrum Intensive Care Base Units in Air Ambulances offer advanced, hospital-grade systems to support critically ill patients during a flight. Equipped with essential features, they include a patient loading system for secure and efficient boarding, along with a central oxygen tank to ensure continuous oxygen supply. Additionally, the vacuum generator and compressed air system enable respiratory support and other life-saving interventions on board.
To power medical equipment, these units come with electrical outlets compatible with 220V or 24/12V, allowing for versatile connections to monitors, ventilators, and other critical devices. This setup ensures that Air Ambulances can deliver high-quality, intensive care throughout the journey.
Satcom for worldwide communication
In an Air Ambulance, reliable communication is crucial for safe, smooth coordination, especially during international missions. Satellite communication (Satcom) allows the medical team, pilots, and dispatch center to stay in constant contact—even in remote areas or at high altitudes where regular cell networks fail. Air Ambulances often fly over regions without any ground communication infrastructure, like oceans, deserts, or mountains.
With Satcom, the crew can quickly share essential patient information with medical experts on the ground and update flight status or logistics with destination hospitals and support teams. In emergencies, when every second counts, Satcom makes it possible to adjust flight plans or medical care immediately. This ensures that the patient always receives the best support, wherever the Air Ambulance may be.
A fully equipped Air Ambulance
The Air Ambulance is equipped with standard medical and technical equipment to deliver top-tier care for critically ill patients during transport. Key among these is the Zoll X Series: a Multi-Parameter Transport Monitor that provides real-time intensive care monitoring, including ECG, non-invasive and invasive blood pressure (NIBP and 2-channel IBP), dual-channel temperature readings, and sidestream etCO₂ monitoring. It also functions as a compact defibrillator-monitor system with a built-in cardiac pacemaker for advanced cardiac support.
For respiratory needs, the Hamilton T1 ventilator offers very good ventilation tailored for critically ill patients in transport, with the Oxylog 3000 serving as a reliable backup. Additionally, the ABBOTT i-STAT Portable Blood Analyzer allows the medical team to monitor physiological status throughout the flight, providing rapid and precise blood analysis to guide in-flight care decisions. This equipment enables a high level of continuous, intensive monitoring and treatment to ensure patient stability from start to finish.
Specialized equipment for vulnerable patients on the Air Ambulance
For the care of vulnerable patients, such as newborns or patients with respiratory problems, the air ambulance has additional specialized equipment. This includes the Draeger 5400 transport incubator, which when combined with the Stephan F120 intensive care respirator provides safe and stable conditions for infants and other vulnerable patients during flight. For specialized respiratory care, the PENTAX Bronchoscope is also available. This bronchoscope enables fiberoptic suctioning and intubation, which is essential in complex airway management and provides precise support for respiratory problems. This advanced equipment allows the medical crew to provide even the most delicate care at high altitude.
An Air Ambulance the right transport for your loved one?
Do you think an Air Ambulance is the right choice? We will make sure that, if you request a free quote, you will get an estimate of the costs for an Air Ambulance in 30 minutes. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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