Most of the time, when you think about private charters, a business trip, flying to a small airport, or even a vacation is what might come to mind. Did you know there are some circumstances where flying private is recommended or required due to medical conditions? When needed, chartered private aircraft play a vital role in many critical, life-threatening, and emergency events!
With Covid-19, a safe & sterile environment for patients with critical illness has become even more important, especially when it involves transit from one location to another. In such cases, private medical charters can prove to be extremely useful in terms of well-being, medical attention, and saving time.
JetOptions can provide guidance and support for all types of medical charter flights. You can find out if your requirements meet that of an Air Ambulance, Private Medical flight, or Non-Emergency Medical Charter. For any type of medical air transport, we are here to help you!
Charter Medical Air Transportation
Whether you need medical attention or extra assistance during the flight, considering charter medical air transportation is a wise choice.
There are the primary categories of Medical Air Transport:
- Air Ambulance
- Non-Emergency Medical Flights
- Medical Flights
While some individuals or patients have medical conditions that necessitate chartered Medical Air Transport, others may require a chartered Air Ambulance flight for more complex or critical matters.
What is an Air Ambulance?
An air ambulance is used to transport patients from one location to another. The FAA(Federal Aviation Administration) sets the guidelines for air ambulances, which are the most regulated of all medical charters.
Air medical services (or aeromedical) cover the use of air transportation for moving patients to and from healthcare facilities and accident scenes. Helicopters, propellers, and jet aircraft are used during aeromedical transport, evacuations, and rescue operations.
Air ambulances are often used for patients with:
- Heart attacks
- Respiratory illness
- Pregnancy complications
- Critically or terminally ill conditions
- Neurological conditions or strokes
Why are Air Ambulances Flights Beneficial?
- An air ambulance is a specially equipped aircraft that transports injured or sick people in a medical emergency over distances or terrain impractical for a conventional ground ambulance.
- They are also often used to move patients over long distances.
- The charter has on board highly trained and licensed medical professionals such as Physicians, Nurses, Paramedics,
- Respiratory Therapists or specialists who are equipped to provide inflight emergency, pre-hospital, or critical care.
- Air ambulances are outfitted with medical equipment necessary for monitoring and treating injured or ill patients.
- Standard kit for air ambulances includes medications, ventilators, ECGs and monitoring devices, CPR devices, and stretchers.
Medical Jet Ambulance: What To Expect On Board?
- Most of the time, an air ambulance staffer is considerably more skilled than a paramedic, so medical control authorizes them to exercise more medical decision-making latitude.
- With a higher skill level comes more authorizations for planning and consultation with supervising physicians. If required, they can issue contingency orders during flight. Some ambulance systems work almost completely off-line, using protocols for nearly all procedures. They can move to online medical control when their protocols have been concluded.
- Air ambulances may have an onsite emergency medicine director available for immediate consultation while in the air. In most scenarios, these are highly trained individuals with complete access to all necessary professional assistance.
Costs For Air Ambulances
The average air ambulance trip is 52 miles and costs between $12,000 to $25,000 per flight. National Air Ambulance charges about $37,400 for a flight from New York to California staffed by a nurse and paramedic.
Things To Note
- Air Ambulances are only allowed by qualified operators engaged in air ambulance operations.
The transport of a person or persons requiring medical personnel and equipment on an unscheduled charter flight must be conducted under FAA Part 135. And specifically, they must comply with Part 135 subpart L in addition to all general Part 135 regulations. - Air ambulance operation of an airplane includes Unscheduled air transportation in an airplane of a person(s) with a health condition that requires:
- Medical personnel to provide special care, including, but not limited to, basic life support (BLS) or advanced life support (ALS)
- Medical types of equipment necessary to support the level of care required for the patient(s), such as medical oxygen, suction, and or a stretcher, Isolette, or other approved patient restraint or containment device as determined by a health care provider.
If any medical care provider has determined that medical personnel are required for patient safety and or life support, the flight is an air ambulance operation.
What are Non-Emergency Medical Charter Flights?
Unlike air ambulances, non-emergency medical charter flights are for patients who are mobile and healthy enough to get around under their power. While not an emergency, these individuals require additional assistance and care.
- Disease or Illness: A person may be too sick to travel, making commercial flights not viable and comfortable. Example: A few examples may include post-surgical compromises to the immune system, injuries, chemotherapy, or transplants, and if you are more than thirty-six weeks pregnant.
- Special Needs: A person may have a physical condition or challenge that requires extra accessibility. Non-Emergency medical charter flights are, therefore, helpful for the physically differently-abled.
The patient may be accompanied by medical staff, family, and friends onboard non-emergency medical flights.
Note: If special medical care is not needed during the trip, a standard private jet charter may be a better solution. We have a vast fleet of aircraft at your disposal, suitable for flying interstate, inter-country, or inter-continent.
Medical Flights
This flight is a non-medically equipped and staffed aircraft that transports patients. If allowed, they may carry supplemental oxygen. The patient can be accompanied by a medical team or caretaker, as well as family and friends onboard.
Any in-flight care equipment or personnel accompanying the passenger must be provided only for the patient’s comfort during a medical flight. Medical flights are equipped to provide maximum comfort and safety for the patient.
Fleet Options For Medical Transportation
With JetOptions, you can unlock access to a diverse fleet of private medical air charters. Medical aircraft fly jet types such as Gulfstream, or Turbo Props Charters such as King Air 350.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Patients Can An Air Ambulance Carry?
A typical air ambulance has the capacity for 6-7 people. Private air ambulances usually have a single patient along with immediate family who are caregivers and medical professionals on board. On the other hand, a Medevac can transport 74 litter patients, while Casualty/Tactical Evacuation (TACEVAC) can carry up to 7 patients at a time.
How Fast Can An Air Ambulance Fly?
The flight speed can vary from one aircraft to another. For instance, MedEvac’s average cruising speed is 120 miles per hour.
Can Air Ambulance Land Anywhere?
Air ambulance helicopters can land in the helipad facility of hospitals that provide it. FAA approves landing as long as it doesn’t cause a threat to any persons or structures while landing.
What Is A Medevac Flight?
Medical Evacuation or Medevac is the aerial transportation of sick or injured persons from one location to another by medical personnel. It is usually used to transport patients in cases where ground ambulances are not feasible, or over large distances, or in extreme situations like a disaster or emergency. They are shifted to medical facilities where comprehensive care is available without delay.
Medical Air Charter
Call JetOptions if you have any additional questions or need to charter a Non-Emergency Medical Transport, Medical Transport, or Air Ambulance. Phone calls are answered 24/7/365.
You can also fill out our charter request form, and you will receive a medical air transportation estimate promptly: