Business Aircraft ‘Doctored’ For Medical Roles

Jetflite’s experience with the Bombardier Challenger 650 only confirms an existing trend. In December 2018, Flying Colours Corp (FC), of Peterborough, Ontario, wrapped up a contract with Rega–Swiss Air-Rescue when the completions house delivered the third 650 in an ambulance configuration FC had designed in conjunction with medical equipment specialists Aerolite and Bombardier’s Specialized Aircraft division. The aircraft can be reconfigured between a flying intensive-care facility for two patients and medical transport for four patients.

The first operator of the HondaJet to take delivery of an air ambulance variant, Wing Spirit of Oahu, Hawaii, has put its aircraft at the disposal of the local community. The company picked up the tab for flights in April, at an estimated cost of $1 million. Outbound sorties between islands are covered by insurance, but return missions are not: Wing Spirit provides them for free. Although in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the flights were not only for those patients; the intent was to ensure hospital beds could be kept available across the islands.

A striking yellow livery is not the only distinguishing characteristic of the Citation Latitude delivered by Textron to Babcock’s Scandinavian Air Ambulance division. The jet has a two-bed air-ambulance configuration with a number of design features reflecting Textron’s decision to build special-missions capabilities into its aircraft from the drawing-board stage. The aircraft complements 10 Beechcraft King Air 250s which Babcock is using to supply a Norwegian government requirement for fixed-wing air-ambulance services. The six-year contract began on July 1, 2019.

Normal business for the Nuremberg, Germany-based FAI air ambulance division involves relatively short-distance flights in and around Europe, mixed with occasional trips to the Middle East. Mostly, these flights are operated by the company’s Learjets. But since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, operations have shifted; longer-range flights now predominate because the positioning of spares or maintenance crews for Learjets has become impossible. Consequently, FAI now operates only a single Learjet 60, while four of its five Bombardier Challenger 604s are in constant aeromed use, as is one Global Express air ambulance.

COVID-proofing an in-service airframe is not easy—but RUAG MRO Switzerland completed the task on two Swiss Air Force EC635s within a matter of days and make them available for use in coronavirus support missions. The work involved screening the cockpit from the cabin to protect pilots, formulating a comprehensive disinfection solution for the entire aircraft and ensuring the medical devices added to the helicopters were shielded from possible electronic interference. All of the service’s EC635s carry basic medical equipment.

Around 30 air ambulance variants of the Kazan Ansat are in service with Russian regional operators under the aegis of the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK). Earlier this year, the Rostec State Corp.’s Russian Helicopters announced it had reached agreement with Rosaviatsiya, the country’s federal air-transport agency, to fit isolation units on board to enable transportation of COVID-positive patients. The light-twin helicopter’s air ambulance version was certified in May 2015. GTLK has acquired a combined 91 Ansats and Mil Mi-17s for support of remote Russian communities.

Embraer in August launched a medevac version of its Phenom 300 light jet designated 300MED. It is offered new or as a retrofit through a partnership with European aerospace company Umlaut and Aerolite, a medical interior developer and supplier. A supplemental type certificate is being sought for a range of interiors, with either one or two stretchers; the ability to carry an incubator and additional medical equipment; plus hospital-grade trim and finishing. Umlaut contributes aircraft engineering, refurbishment and certification experience, while Aerolite specializes in designing and installing aeromedical interiors.