Medical flights enable the transportation of ill or injured patients over long distances. In the event of a medical emergency in a country or city where medical infrastructures and healthcare services are lacking, a medical flight can be a life-saving solution. Patients needing to fly safely and urgently back to their home countries or to another foreign country for better healthcare can request medical flight services. What are the different types of medical flights available and who can rely on them? What are the possibilities when it comes to medical flights? We’ll explore these key points in our article.
When is a medical flight required and what are the options available?
A medical flight is for passengers who cannot fly commercially because of a medical condition.
They are considered at risk because of a potential deterioration of their health when flying traditionally.
Medical repatriations and medical evacuations are common motives for medical flights.
A medical flight in an air ambulance can be organized for patients who are in life-threatening situations.
For patients not requiring specialized care or needing only minimal medical attention, a commercial flight with a medical escort can be planned.
What is a medical flight?
A medical flight is a term that is used to refer to the air transportation of a sick or injured patient, accompanied by a medical team. Specialized in aviation medicine and equipped with proper medical gear, the dispatched crew can provide care and assistance during the whole flight.
Depending on the patient’s condition and his equipment requirements, different types of medical flights can be recommended. At MTI 24/7, our medical flight solutions have been designed to cater to the various needs of patients with diverse pathologies.
What are the different types of medical flights
Medical flights can be planned for people needing emergency and non-emergency medical transportation. As such, medical flights can be carried out in air ambulances, which are fully outfitted with medical equipment, or via commercial flights with a medical escort onboard.
Air ambulances - ICU medical flights
An air ambulance can either be a fixed-wing aircraft (medical jet) or a rotary-wing aircraft (helicopter) and can be tailored to your needs. They both have their particularities which allows them to shine in specific situations.
A private jet (fixed-wing aircraft) is powered by a jet engine or a propeller which enables it to fly faster and have greater autonomy. Due to less refuel stops, fixed-wing aircrafts are ideal for long-distance patient transport. Additionally, they can brave bad weather which limits delays when transferring patients. Their size is another note-worthy advantage: spacious enough, they are perfect for the transport of high-risk patients needing bulky medical equipment and a reinforced medical team (nurse, paramedics and a specialist physician).
Rotary-wing aircrafts such as helicopters use rotating blades to operate. They are used for emergency situations, usually when a person needs to be transported to the closest medical facility to receive urgent and specialized care. They can be exploited in cases where accessing the patient by ground ambulance would be a hurdle or for short-distance transfers not typically covered by ground ambulances. Short-range transfers of patients from one medical facility to another can also require the use of rotary-wing aircrafts.
Medical escort on commercial flights
Our medical escort services are the right option for patients who need minimal medical attention and cannot travel commercially in a conventional way. During a medical escort flight, either a doctor or a nurse can be deployed, depending on the patient’s health and medical needs.
The role of the healthcare professional is to assist the patient and provide him with the right support whenever needed. Furthermore, they can also intervene in case of in-flight emergencies. However, because of restrictions imposed by commercial airliners, medical escorts cannot always carry advanced medical equipment or patient-specific medication.
When flying with a medical escort, the patient can either be seated in business class or economy class. Patients with mobility issues can also request a stretcher flight for more comfort. It is crucial to note that patients apt to fly commercially are those who are stable and can withstand the differences in cabin pressure and physical strain.
Medical repatriation and medical evacuation services
At MTI 24/7, we specialize in medical repatriation and medical evacuation services. Making health care available to patients wherever they may be is our top priority. Animated and driven by this passion, we carry out air transport missions for patients across the globe every day.
A medical repatriation is needed when a sick or injured person located in a remote or less developed country cannot receive proper care locally and wants to get back to his home country for further treatment. On the other hand, a medical evacuation can be conducted for an individual who cannot be treated in his home country and needs to travel abroad for advanced and specialized care. Our medical flight services have been formulated to transport patients safely and efficiently, be it for a medical repatriation or a medical evacuation.
When do you need medical flight transport?
Medical flights are generally recommended for patients who cannot fly because of a medical condition; flying without medical assistance can be considered a risk. In some cases, a medical flight can be a necessity for the individual’s safety because of potential in-flight complications arising following the change in air pressure, prolonged immobility, dehydration and low level of oxygen onboard a classic flight.
Situations requiring a medical flight include:
Serious wounds and fractures;
Recent surgeries;
Bed-bound patients;
Mobility issues;
Neurological conditions;
Patients with a history of DVT;
Cancer patients;
Cardiovascular diseases and more.
Can I travel internationally using medical flights?
One of the perks of medical flights is that international and even transcontinental transfers are possible. However, while fixed-wing air ambulances can be booked for international transfers, flying internationally with a medical escort is dependent on approval from the airline company and hence can be pretty limited. The main reasons for this are:
stretcher flights are allowed by certain airliners for specific routes only. However seated medical escort flights may be allowed.
the complexity of the organizational and logistics aspects are often grounds for refusal of such an operation.
How much does a medical flight cost?
Answering this question can be tricky because multiple elements come into play when estimating the cost of a medical flight. The medical escort cost is dependent on the type of patient transport but also the patient’s condition and medical requirements, amongst other things.
Costs associated to a medical flight vary according to:
The type of medical flight needed;
The medical crew deployed;
The number of accompanying persons;
The urgency of the request;
The distance covered;
The medical gear required.
Steps for booking a medical flight with us
If you or your loved one need a medical flight, you can rely on our services. Our team is available round the clock and can diligently assist you at every stage. To book with us, only a few steps are required:
Contact us: get in touch with us via mail, phone or our contact form. During a free consultation, our team will offer you personalized advice and help you opt for the best transport option.
Assess your quotation: after an evaluation of your case and a fit-to-fly assessment, a customized quotation will be sent to you which you can carefully review.
Confirm your booking: after confirming your booking, we’ll make all the necessary arrangements for a swift and safe medical flight.
Get in touch with us
Committed to providing you top-notch medical care during your transfer with us, we, at MTI 24/7, can guide and assist you for an optimal medical flight. Do not hesitate to contact us any time of day. Our team is available 24 hours a day.
Reach us by:
Phone: USA: +1 646 335 06 83 / UK: +44 20 3608 0959
Email: info@mti-247.com
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