Top questions from families, insurers and hospitals.
Typical activation is 4–12 hours from confirmation, subject to clearances, crew positioning and medical feasibility. Truly time-critical missions can move faster when a suitable aircraft is on station nearby.
Yes. Our quotes are bed-to-bed by default, including ground ambulances at both ends and physician-to-physician handover with the receiving team.
Many travel and expat policies include medical repatriation. Cover varies — we work directly with insurers and assistance companies and can liaise on your behalf, but coverage is decided by your insurer.
In practice the terms overlap. 'Medevac' tends to imply an urgent, mission-led evacuation; 'air ambulance' is the aircraft category itself. Both describe a medical flight with clinical crew on board.
Yes. International medevac is routine — we handle landing permits, overflight clearances, customs and immigration for the patient, escorts and crew.
We choose the most suitable airport based on aircraft runway requirements, customs hours, hospital proximity and the patient's clinical needs.
Planned repatriations are typically booked 24–72 hours in advance to allow medical clearances and airline approvals. Urgent cases can move faster on a private air ambulance.
Some carriers do, with their own medical clearance process and seat-block arrangement. We handle the airline medical desk on your behalf.
Usually yes. On a private air ambulance one or two relatives can normally accompany the patient subject to weight and balance; on commercial flights they buy their own seat.
Yes. Ventilated, sedated and paralysed patients are routine. The team brings transport ventilators, oxygen supply, suction and full ICU monitoring.
Yes, subject to the right aircraft, perfusionist, and confirmed receiving ECMO centre. Mission planning takes longer than a standard ICU transfer.
We arrange a physician-to-physician handover at the bedside, with a written transfer summary and complete observation chart.
Yes. One team coordinates ground ambulances, aircraft, permits, customs, and hospital admission so you never have to chase multiple providers.
Yes. Our medical and operational partners cover the major civil airports worldwide; ground ambulances are sourced and vetted locally for each mission.
We hold the patient with an appropriate medical bridge — ground ambulance with crew, hospital A&E, or a holding ward — until the receiving bed is ready.
Movements use general-aviation terminals where available, with discreet ground transport, no public boarding queues, and no patient information shared with third parties.
Yes, almost always — subject to aircraft weight, balance and any medical considerations specific to your case.
Yes — most carriers require a MEDIF form signed by the treating doctor. We manage the submission and follow-up with the airline medical desk.
The escort manages care to the limit of the cabin environment. For unstable patients we recommend a private air ambulance instead.
Often, but not always — blocking up to nine seats and paying medical-clearance fees can narrow the gap, especially on premium routes. We compare both and quote.
Pre-boarding via a dedicated medical lift, before other passengers, with a curtain screen for privacy.
Useful operational radius is typically 100–200 nautical miles with a patient on board, depending on the aircraft and weather. Beyond that, a fixed-wing aircraft is usually the better choice.
Night and IFR operations are routine for properly equipped HEMS helicopters and trained crews. Severe weather may still ground a mission for safety.
Typically yes — cruise around 250–300 knots versus 420–500 for a midsize jet. On regional sectors the time difference is usually small once airport access is factored in.
Tell us where the patient is. We do the rest.