Air Ambulance Review | September 2023

Jet patient transport

As a platform for air ambulances, fixed-wing jets provide a solution for transporting patients long distances very quickly. Jon Adams summarises and compares four of these aircraft

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The price is right for taking flight

Geopolitical events and public health crises can inflate air ambulance costs, but there are ways that assistance companies can ensure value for money. Assistance and air ambulance professionals share with…

Moving medicines

International prescribing represents a potential legal minefield of risks for insurers, assistance companies and medical escorts. So, what can be done to make it as safe as possible for patients…

Read the September 2023 Review

Interview: Claudia Schmiedhuber – Trends and challenges in accreditation

ITIJ spoke to Claudia Schmiedhuber, Managing Director at EURAMI, about the latest trends and challenges in accreditation, plus EURAMI’s plans for the future

Interview: Nick Pound, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at World Nomads

Nick Pound, Co-Founder and Head of Partnerships at World Nomads, spoke to us about how a global network of partners and providers helps the insurer meet the needs of travellers

Interview: Mark Carney, President and CEO of WorldTrips

An evolving business: Mark Carney spoke to ITIJ Air Ambulance Review about the challenges facing travel medical insurance and the air ambulance sector, and why it’s still a rewarding and…

CASE STUDY: Challenging air evacuation rescues critically ill patient from war-torn Sudan

Whilst AMREF Flying Doctors (AFD) routinely perform many flights for national and international clients on frequented routes into African, Asian and European Countries, AFD also specialise in niche missions, such…

CASE STUDY: International road-accident repatriations

Every air ambulance flight is linked to a tragedy in some way. However, within a short period, the European Air Ambulance (EAA) was tasked with four very similar repatriations with…

CASE STUDY: Out of the ordinary

After decades of experience in aeromedical transports, one might think they have seen it all – however, sometimes there is a case so extraordinary that even the most experienced flight…

Airlec Air Ambulance life support machine

CASE STUDY: Mission impossible

In situations, where patients are in need of help in foreign countries, and where other fellow air ambulance competitors denied their help, Airlec once again proved their competence in organising…

Swiss Air-Rescue Rega contagious patients

CASE STUDY: Transporting highly contagious patients

Missions to transport contagious patients are demanding, and part of the everyday work of the crews of Swiss Air-Rescue (Rega). Thanks to Rega’s strong innovative drive, repatriating patients on board…

CASE STUDY: Crossing three continents on land, sea and air

When a 42-year-old crew member on a cargo vessel developed chest pain while on duty in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea near North Africa, the crew of Redstar Aviation…

Geopolitical chaos: The European response

Megan Gaen investigates how air ambulances and assistance companies were affected by Brexit, Covid-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Wing-to-wing transfers and the need for strong partnerships

Wing-to-wing patient transfers are sensitive, complex missions – and success relies on partnerships that are exceptional in every way. Air ambulance operators share with Lauren Haigh the crucial considerations when…

Can I get a quote? Providing accurate quotes to clients for time-sensitive missions

Oliver Cuenca talks to members of the air ambulance community about how they provide accurate quotes to clients when responding to time-sensitive missions

Read the March 2023 Review

Air Ambulance Review | September 2022

The benefits and challenges of commercial repatriations

Oliver Cuenca talks to repatriation experts about the benefits and challenges of transporting patients on commercial flights, building relationships with airlines and managing kit in small cabin spaces

Training fixed-wing medical crews

To ensure a reliable and readily available skill set and high performance in the complex and sometimes convoluted air ambulance environment, operators have a very structured training curriculum. Clara Bullock…

Industry Voice: EHAC

Peter Turi of TrustAir shared the past, present and future of EHAC’s Medical Working Group (MWG) and scientific activities with ITIJ

Read the September 2022 Review

Air Ambulance Review | March 2022

Aeromedical accreditation in a post-pandemic world

Oliver Cuenca talks to representatives from across the aeromedical accreditation industry about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected global demand, how auditing has had to adapt, and whether there have…

Interview: David Fox, Fox Flight

ITIJ spoke to David Fox, founder and President of air ambulance Fox Flight, about how the business has developed over the past 25 years, and what its plans are as…

How to make tough medical transport decisions

Where in the world should insurers always pay to evacuate their client, and what factors play into that decision? Clara Bullock spoke to assistance providers to find out how they…

Read the March 2022 Review

Air Ambulance Review | September 2021

Supply chain challenges for insurance and assistance providers

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption across all corners of the travel industry. As companies battle to stay afloat with no income, how have insurers’ supply chains been affected…

Creating a standard for international Covid-19 patient transfers

Can there be a defined international standard for Covid-19 air medical transfers? Mandy Langfield finds out if there is an appetite among air ambulance operators to offer their insurance and…

The Latin American air ambulance sector – market examination

Jackie Annett looks at how the Latin American air ambulance industry has dealt with the pandemic, and how it’s looking forward to welcoming tourists back on board

Read the September 2021 Review

Air Ambulance Review | March 2021

Air ambulance industry copes well with Covid-19 fallout

With commercial flights suspended across the world, the role that air ambulances play in the travel assistance industry has radically changed during the global pandemic. Robyn Bainbridge investigates how emergency…

Breaking down air ambulance billing – where does the money go?

Air ambulance flight bills can be expensive and difficult for insurers to understand. They are often drawn up quickly right before the flight and can vary hugely between different missions…

Air ambulance accreditation in the era of Covid-19

Keeping service quality high when no-one is looking can be difficult, so when Covid-19 meant that no in-person accreditation visits could take place, the various accreditation organisations around the world…

Read the March 2021 Review

Air Ambulance Review | September 2020

Covid-19’s effect on the air ambulance market

The current pandemic has had a dramatic effect on air ambulance services, with many reporting lower demand amidst an obviously higher risk of infection. Clara Bullock takes a look at…

Air ambulance operations in Asia

Robyn Bainbridge takes a look at the provision of air medical operators in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region

Interview: Eva Kluge

ITIJ spoke to Eva Kluge, Director of Sales and Business Development for Air Alliance MedFlight, about the challenges 2020 has brought, and how, with the right mindset, providers can adapt…

Read the September 2020 Review

Air Ambulance Review | March 2020

Public Relations for air ambulance companies

Nimble tactics and long-term thinking are vital for air ambulance operators seeking to build and protect their image. When all is going well, proactive public relations (PR) can be a…

Financing fleet renewal for air ambulance operators

For fixed-wing air ambulance companies in the private sector, balancing the pros and cons of leasing or outright purchase is key, say operators. But for smaller outfits in different regions…

Air ambulance accreditation update

ITIJ spoke to representatives from EURAMI, CAMTS and NAAMTA to find out their latest news

Read the March 2020 Review

Air Ambulance Review | September 2019

Map of Capital Air Ambulance patient journey route Morocco to Spain

CASE STUDY: Capital Air Ambulance

A trauma case in Morocco demonstrates how working for an air ambulance company dealing with foreign repatriations requires the ability to navigate a wide range of unexpected circumstances on arrival…

Insurance for fixed-wing air ambulance operators

Air ambulance operators around the world are under pressure from health insurance and assistance companies to keep prices down, while at the same time, many are dealing with increasing hull…

Detailed flight planning key to air ambulance missions

Proper preparation enables more successful missions. James Paul Wallis goes behind the hangar door with global air ambulance operators to find out more about the effort that goes into ensuring…

Read the September 2019 Review

Air Ambulance Review | March 2019

Updates from CAMTS, EURAMI, NAAMTA and other accreditation organisations

ITIJ contacted CAMTS, EURAMI and NAAMTA to find out what the various accreditation organisations have been up to over the past 12 months, and what they hope to achieve in…

Air ambulance partnership deals

James Paul Wallis reports on how partnership deals between air ambulance providers can benefit patients and payers alike

Air ambulance pricing

Does a variation in pricing in the international fixed-wing air ambulance industry reflect differing quality of providers, or are some providers simply making more profit than others? James Paul Wallis…

Read the March 2019 Review