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Air Ambulance with AEROAFFAIRES

Evacuation sécuritaire et politique / Air ambulance
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Do you need emergency medical transport by air ambulance? AEROAFFAIRES is always on call to meet your air evacuation or repatriation needs, anywhere and at any time. We put our vast experience and highly qualified professionals at your disposal, guaranteeing to meet all your air medical transport requirements. 

We offer a wide range of emergency medical services that ensure to safely take you back home or transport you to a medical facility across the country or internationally. When it comes to special medical needs or urgent intensive care, rely on a medical air service provider you can depend on. 

When to request an air ambulance? 

In case of accident, illness or because of Covid-19 in a foreign country, the first aid available or the quality of treatment may not be optimal. Therefore, in order to benefit from the best medical care, it’s preferable to be transferred urgently to another country or to your home country by air. Thanks to our extensive network of private jets and helicopters, we can provide a medical flight safely and adapt to each situation according to the circumstances. 

Among the 4.400 million international travelers in 2018, 300 000 flights were made in response to a health emergency. In business aviation, medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) represents 30% of flights made in private jets (VIP transport or air cargo). In most cases, when medical teams request an ambulance aircraft, it is because the patient’s state of health does not allow him to fly with a commercial aircraft (he is declared Not Fit To Fly). In fact, air evacuation by private jet is the last resort. It avoids the risk of a commercial aircraft having to divert to land at an airport far from the final destination because the passenger needs medical care.

Here you’ll find everything you need to know about air medical transport or air ambulances and why transferring patients using air medical ambulances offers many advantages.

Definition of medical transportation

Medical transportation is the transfer of a patient that is sick, injured or otherwise incapacitated to a healthcare facility such as a hospital or an intensive care unit. This also covers transporting the person after the care service is provided. The different types of medical transportation are common carrier, life support and special transportation.

There are two types of transportation:

Medical transport of injured persons or transportation for medical purposes.

Medical transport of injured persons

It is the transport of the patient from the place of the accident to an assistance center. Evacuation is also included here.

Transportation for medical purposes

It is the transportation of the patient from one health care facility to another (e.g., for medical appointments, to the place of convalescence, etc.)

There are several ways to carry out a medical transportation: 

  • Transfer by ambulance or in a medical vehicle of this kind.
  • Transfer by helicopter, especially when it has to be done quickly and when the place where the victim is to be treated is difficult to access.
  • Transfer by airplane, when the repatriation flight covers a long distance or takes a long time. 

Our air ambulance helicopters and airplanes are available for a wide range of customers in need of medical transportation

Private individuals without insurance

Assistance companies (International SOS, Europ Assistance, Mondial Assistance…)

Companies and industries

Hospitals, clinics and SAMU (AP-HP Paris, MEDAIR, TURPAN…)

Embassies and governments

Insurers and mutual insurance companies (AXA, CHUBB, GENERALI, SWISSLIFE…)

Non-governmental organizations (UN, UNICEF, Doctors of the World, Doctors Without Borders, etc.)

Conditions for a sanitary air evacuation

A team of physicians employed for medical flighta assess the patient’s condition and decide whether the flight is feasible, necessary or mandatory.

Several aspects must be taken into account when using RAPASAN or EVASAN:

  • Our doctors are responsible for the patient’s state of health. They are qualified to transport injured and sick people by plane under the best conditions and have very specific knowledge.
  • The professional of the hospital of destination is released from any responsibility. For this reason, our doctor is the only one who makes decisions about medical flights. In case of complications, our physician will consult the family and the medical team of the destination hospital to make the decision.
  • Our expert’s responsibility implies that the physician at the destination hospital cannot prevent an EVASAN or a RAPASAN.

Our physicians must know the patient’s complete medical history. It is essential that you provide us with certain information from the outset so that we can respond as quickly as possible to your request for a medical flight.

Information required to rent an air ambulance

The 3 key pieces of information:

Contact information of the doctor in charge of the patient

Information and details of the physician and the hospital to which the patient will be transferred

The patient’s medical history

In some very specific cases, it may be necessary to provide additional information or fill out forms. We are available 24 hours a day, every day to answer your questions.

Air ambulance cost: how much does it cost?

When it comes to paying for the air medical transportation expenses, there are several options. 

Air ambulance repatriation insurance coverage

Before traveling, it is possible to take out a repatriation insurance. In the event of a serious health problem such as an accident, an illness, injury, etc., the patient is cared for and repatriated to his or her place of origin or to a hospital adapted to his or her state of health. Before departure, it is advisable to find out about the health status of the country of destination and to check the cost of medical expenses abroad, which can be particularly high in some countries like Canada, the United States or Japan. Insurance can therefore facilitate repatriation.

Does repatriation insurance cover if the individual dies abroad due to an accident? Yes, in general, the insurance includes special benefits such as coffin transfer and repatriation of the body.

Repatriation insured by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In cases of extreme urgency and for patients who have insufficient resources, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may grant financial assistance to obtain medical repatriation from abroad. Depending on the demand and also on the available funds, the State can take care of the medical repatriation of a citizen from a certain country free of charge. The patient’s medical file is then shared between the consulate and the local doctor to determine whether or not repatriation is necessary. 

Visa card reimbursement

When a trip is paid for by Visa card, medical repatriation is automatically taken into account. Several family members are covered: the cardholder, its spouse or common-law partner, as well as children and grandchildren under the age of 25. Please refer to the contract signed at the bank when you obtained your Visa card to find out the limit up to which the patient can be reimbursed.

Reimbursement through Social Security or mutual insurance company
  • Abroad: depending on the country where the patient is located, the Social Security may intervene to cover the costs incurred in repatriation. If necessary, the patient’s mutual insurance company may take over. Before starting a trip, it is advisable to contact the organizations directly for information.
  • In France: reimbursement for medical transport in France can reach 65% of the total amount for the primary health insurance fund. Cases in which 100% is assumed may be pregnant women over 6 months, newborns requiring hospitalization, chronically ill patients, victims of industrial accidents or certain pensioners. There are different means of medical transportation but the reimbursement of expenses is established according to the least expensive means of transportation. Example: if you travel by plane, Social Security will cover up to 65% of the cost of an economy class ticket.

Caution: if the repatriated person does not fall into any of the above-mentioned cases, he/she will be responsible for the cost of repatriation transport. If accompanied, it is also up to the returnee to ensure the repatriation of his/her family members.

What is a sanitary flight?

A medical flight is an air medical transport of a person in need of medical assistance. It is generally known as “medical air assistance” and it uses a medicalized aircraft to transport the patient as quickly as possible while providing care. Therefore, it is a solution that responds to a medical emergency or a health problem in a somewhat critical context. 

An air ambulance covers several needs:

Medical repatriation (RAPASAN)

Medical evacuation (EVASAN)

Medical transportation

Health tourism

Pediatric or incubator transportation

Repatriation of deceased persons

Organ transportation

What is a medical aircraft (air ambulance)?

A medical jet or air ambulance allows patient transportation in a fast and safe way, over medium and long distances. Classic private jets are configured and converted to perform medical operations on board.

Our air fleet allows us to adapt faster than commercial aircraft to all patient diagnoses, without restrictions. Whether it is a private jet or a turboprop, all our medical aircraft are configured with medical equipment to accommodate the most critical cases (air-conditioned spaces, etc.). The aircrafts are specially prepared to offer intensive medical facilities with qualified personnel on board.

Medical equipment is added on board the air ambulance if necessary. Sick passengers can be transported seated or lying down. And medical equipment can be supplemented to ensure safe evacuation in the event of a life-threatening situation. We adapt to each patient’s situation, providing integral solutions in real time.

What are the advantages of medical airplanes?

Air ambulances offer many advantages for the patients: 

  • A fast and comfortable flight 

Flights in a medical plane are made in a private jet such as the Falcon 8X or the Falcon 900 (from the aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation), especially in the case of evacuations from the Antilles to France. These modern aircraft have state-of-the-art technology that allows fast, silent and quiet flights.

  • The flexibility offered by business aviation

Healthcare aviation is adapted to the needs of patients and vital urgency. There is no need to wait in the airport terminal. In fact, take-off times are flexible and the aircraft can be chartered in less than 2 hours. It then flies directly to its final destination without a stopover.

  • Increased accessibility to airports and airfields

Many commercial aircraft cannot land at all types of airports. Thanks to medical aviation, patients and medical teams can travel to more than 3,000 destinations. For example, the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop is a widely used aircraft in remote areas for medical evacuations (EVASAN). This allows it to take off and land at provincial airfields with short runways, as close as possible to the medical center.

  • A very safe flight in a medical aircraft

In a life-threatening prognostic situation, various solutions and arrangements can be adopted to ensure that the trip runs smoothly. Firstly, the cabin pressurization can be adjusted so that the pressure level is the same as on the ground. In addition, on a medical flight, you are accompanied by a team of doctors and nurses dedicated to stabilizing the patient’s condition. Finally, in the event of complications during the flight, the aircraft can make an emergency landing at the nearest airport.

What type of medical aircraft is used for a repatriation?

A medical aircraft, whether it is a turboprop or a jet model, provides great comfort and the best safety for the patient requesting repatriation or medical evacuation.

  • Turboprop aircraft

It is less fast than the ambulance jet, which has a jet engine. However, the price of the flight is more affordable. In addition, it can land on short runways at small regional airports, something that a jet cannot do. Finally, for long trips or flights over the sea, the ambulance jet is preferable.

  • Air Ambulance Jet

It is ideal for emergency medical flights requiring long-haul repatriation, such as intercontinental flights, as it is extremely fast (e.g. a Boeing 787-8).

What are the differences between a medical and a commercial aircraft?

Medical flights by commercial aircrafts are the most affordable solution, but it doesn’t offer any of the services provided by the medical aircraft.

  • On a commercial airliner, you will travel in second class on a stretcher or in business class in a sleeper seat.
  • In addition, the medical follow-up provided is less thorough. You have the possibility of being accompanied by a medical team, but it is not possible to perform interventions on board or to carry intensive care equipment.
  • It also depends on the air traffic and airport schedules offered by conventional airlines. And in the case of long distances, there are often layovers, which can be stressful or potentially harmful for the patient.
  • On the other hand, the cabin pressure of a commercial flight cannot be optimized. Depending on the type of trauma, a pressure very different from that on the ground can cause pain and sometimes, complications.

Our medical flight services

We cover all medical needs and find fast solutions for extreme cases regarding:

Medical repatriation (RAPASAN)

Medical repatriation consists of transporting patients with health problems to their country or city of origin. Medical repatriation is done to provide better quality care or follow-up care in the patient’s place of residence.

Medical Evacuation (EVASAN)

It is usually carried out in the military. However, the term “medical evacuation” is also used in civil aviation to refer to the evacuation of an injured or sick person in order to provide appropriate care. EVASAN is an emergency transport. This type of evacuation is related to wars, pandemics or the inability to provide the necessary care. Thus, a medical aircraft is chartered to fly out of this dangerous area to the nearest appropriate medical facility.

Medical transportation by air (MEDEVAC)

Medical transport is the transfer of an injured or sick person from one place to another, at the patient’s choice. The objective is to transfer a patient to another health center chosen for the care provided by that center. From London to Bordeaux or from Milan to Zurich, we respond to all your requests, regardless of the country you are in and the country in which you wish to be hospitalized.

Health tourism by air ambulance

If you want to leave your country to undergo a medical operation abroad, choose health tourism. Many patients choose to be hospitalized in a foreign country for different reasons: lower costs, quality of care offered, medical capacity and medical authorizations. For example, many French people choose countries such as Switzerland, Austria or Israel to undergo cosmetic surgery, dental surgery or infertility treatments. With medical air travel, you can enjoy a safe and quick flight, in optimal comfort.

Pediatric or incubator transportation by medical aircraft

A young child or even a newborn who has an accident while on vacation may not always be able to receive proper care at all facilities. Doing an EVASAN or RAPASAN can be crucial for your child’s health. Babies have especially fragile bodies and are very delicate when it comes to being transported. That is why we have a medical team specialized in infant medicine at your disposal. In the case of a premature birth in an inadequate hospital, you can request a medical transport in which an incubator is installed to keep your child healthy during the transfer. Our aircraft are state-of-the-art and will guarantee you a smooth journey.

Transportation of human remains in a medical aircraft

The repatriation of a body or a funeral urn involves a lot of logistics and authorizations. In this situation, our experts are at your disposal seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and take care of all the administrative formalities necessary for the transport of the body by medical aircraft.

Organ transport by air ambulance

Organ transport is very delicate and involves important issues of speed, hygiene and preservation. Our team provides you with turboprops and helicopters capable of landing as close as possible to the medical center.

The advantages of our emergency air services

24 Hour Services

Our aviation experts are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to your freight request and questions. We also guarantee follow-up care until the patient’s arrival at home or at the hospital.

Bed-to-bed transfer

In addition to your medical flight, we arrange your transfer from the airport to the hospital by ambulance for a quick “bed-to-bed” transport.

Special pressurization

A sudden change in atmospheric pressure can cause fatal complications in some diseases. Our airplanes are equipped with a particular technology to modify the pressure during the flight and guarantee a safe transfer.

Administrative support and complete translation of important documents. Our network of partners gives us access to a sworn interpreter who will accompany you throughout your flight abroad. We will also accompany and advise you on your entry into the country and on the establishment of a specific medical service.

Price of an air ambulance

We offer you quality medical and sanitary flights at the best price. We respond to your requests and ensure that your trip runs smoothly. Our large fleet of aircraft allows us to adapt and react to all your needs.

 

Flight prices vary depending on many factors

The type of aircraft

Medical devices and treatments required on board

The distance to be covered

Additional services

Air ambulance flight price example 

Medical flight between Marrakech and Paris

Price starting at 15,000 euros

Type of aircraft: Falcon 100

Type of service: EVASAN

Flight duration: 3 hours

Our aviation experts are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to find your medical flight and answer your questions (about luggage, passports, fares, aircraft models, etc.). Contact us at any time on +33 (0) 1 44 09 91 82.

You can also read our articles on repatriation from Morocco to France or on medical repatriation from Thailand to France.

  • What is an air ambulance?

    A medical repatriation plane or air ambulance is a fast and medicalized means of transport for people in need of medical assistance. It can cover medium and long distances.

    Medical transport by air allows the medical repatriation of the most critical cases. In the context of medical repatriation, it may be necessary for medical personnel to perform surgery on board. Therefore, a medical aircraft requires a fully optimized configuration for this type of transport, with specific medical equipment.

    On board a medical aircraft, the patient is transported seated or lying down. The medical staff can be supplemented by on-board equipment to ensure a safe medical evacuation by air.

    Booking a private medical jet for medical transport has many advantages.

    Firstly, an air ambulance can potentially land at more than 3,000 destinations, unlike a commercial aircraft. For example, the medical evacuation aircraft is widely used in remote areas, such as a provincial airfield. This allows it to land as close as possible to the destination medical center.

    On the other hand, the other advantage of a private medevac aircraft is its high availability. It is possible to book a plane instantly for medical assistance or a medical evacuation, depending on the urgency of the transport of people. The main difference between a medical plane and a commercial plane, in case of emergency, is the flexibility of the schedule.

  • Air ambulance: plane or helicopter?

    Among existing aircraft fleets, there are two types of aircraft that can be used as medical aircraft (or air ambulances). Medical transports are generally carried out in turboprop or jet aircraft. Whichever aircraft is used, a medical aircraft allows for safe and comfortable medical repatriation.

    Turboprop medical aircraft:

    The turboprop medical aircraft is a slower means of transport than the jet ambulance. It is the ideal means of transport for short-haul flights. It can land at small airports, unlike a private jet. It is not the preferred mode of air transport for long-haul flights. But medical repatriation by plane comes at a price, and it is more interesting with a turboprop plane than with an ambulance jet.

    Medical jet or ambulance jet:

    The jet-propelled medical aircraft allows faster medical transport by air and can cover long distances. The ambulance jet is preferable for an emergency repatriation on an intercontinental flight, for example.

  • How much does an air ambulance cost?

    The use of an air ambulance is priced differently depending on the context. Information can be obtained from air transport agents or private transport airlines. In most cases it is possible to contact them by telephone or directly through their website. Air ambulance professionals can respond to all types of requests, from medical evacuation to repatriation of the body, to medical tourism in the case of cosmetic surgery, for example.

    The price of medical air transport depends on several factors. The price depends on the urgency of the request. If the transport requires little or no medical personnel on board, the price remains affordable. If an operation has to be performed mid-flight and a full surgical team is required, the price increases. Therefore, the number of personnel on board is a decisive factor in the price of the flight.

    Medical equipment also has a cost: the more sophisticated it is, the higher the cost.

    Finally, the distance between take-off and landing weighs in the balance. You will not pay the same price whether you travel in France or across the ocean.

    Once the request for a medical airplane has been established, the budget quickly takes care of an efficient medical repatriation by air. It is then possible to book a medical plane, an air ambulance or any other type of medical transport by plane.

    The necessary authorizations for the chartering of a medical plane are handled directly by the professionals in the sector. After confirming the reservation, you will receive a detailed plan of the air ambulance trip.