Inhaled Nitric Oxide Air Ambulance Transport

Service Highlights:

  • FAA-Authorized Inhaled Nitric Oxide Capability: AirCARE1 voluntarily completed the necessary clinical, operational, hazardous-materials, and aviation processes to incorporate Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNO) into the company’s FAA-regulated operations. This level of authorization should not be assumed across all air ambulance providers and reflects AirCARE1’s commitment to delivering advanced medical services to high standards of safety, compliance, and patient care.
  • Uninterrupted Therapy Throughout Transport: Our medical crew can continue physician-ordered iNO therapy a patient is receiving at the sending hospital throughout the air medical transport, supporting bedside-to-bedside continuity of care.
  • Specialized Respiratory Support in the Air: For responsive patients, iNO may help improve oxygenation, lower pressure within the pulmonary circulation, support pulmonary stability, and reduce strain on the right side of the heart.
  • Expanded Options for Medically Fragile Patients: Because iNO is not commonly available during air ambulance transport, patients dependent on this therapy may have limited transfer options. AirCARE1’s capability can help qualifying patients reach appropriate specialized care without an unnecessary interruption in treatment.

 

Continuous Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy for Medically Complex Patients

AirCARE1 provides inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), during qualifying air ambulance transports when ordered and clinically appropriate. Authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to carry iNO aboard our Learjet 60 aircraft, we can safely and properly continue this highly specialized respiratory therapy throughout our patient’s bedside-to-bedside journey.

For medically fragile patients, uninterrupted treatment can support pulmonary stability, expand transport options that might otherwise be limited, and help them safely reach the specialized care they need.

If you have a patient or family member who requires iNO during transport, you can count on AirCARE1 to provide the specialized equipment, clinical expertise, and careful coordination needed throughout the journey.

What Is Inhaled Nitric Oxide?

Inhaled nitric oxide is a prescription medical gas administered through a specialized breathing or ventilator circuit. It works directly within the lungs by relaxing pulmonary blood vessels and helping improve blood flow to areas receiving ventilation.

For responsive patients, iNO can help:

  • Improve oxygenation
  • Lower pulmonary pressure
  • Support pulmonary stability
  • Reduce strain on the right side of the heart

Every patient is different. The use and continuation of iNO during transport are determined by the patient’s physicians and AirCARE1’s medical team based on the patient’s condition and clinical needs.

Which Patients May Benefit From Inhaled Nitric Oxide Transport?

  • Infants With Pulmonary Hypertension: iNO can be especially important for infants experiencing severe oxygenation failure associated with pulmonary hypertension. In qualifying term and near-term newborns, the therapy may improve oxygenation and reduce the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO. Continuing iNO during transport helps support the infant’s oxygenation and pulmonary stability while maintaining continuity between the sending and receiving medical teams.
  • Select Burn and Smoke-Inhalation Patients: iNO may also provide respiratory support for select patients whose burns or smoke-inhalation injuries are complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome, severe hypoxemia, increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation or other serious respiratory complications. iNO does not treat the burn injury itself. When ordered by a physician, it may be used as a temporary rescue therapy to improve oxygenation and help stabilize the patient during transfer to a specialized burn or critical care facility.
  • Other Medically Complex Patients: Some patients with severe respiratory or pulmonary complications may also require continued iNO therapy during transfer. AirCARE1 reviews each request individually and coordinates with the sending and receiving medical teams to determine whether the patient can be safely transported.

FAA-Authorized Equipment, Procedures, and Training

Providing inhaled nitric oxide in flight requires more than placing a medical gas cylinder aboard an aircraft. Because iNO is transported as a regulated hazardous material, AirCARE1 completed the required clinical, operational, and aviation steps to formally integrate it into our FAA-regulated operating system.

The program includes:

  • Specialized delivery and monitoring equipment
  • Backup equipment and supplies
  • Hazardous-materials handling and documentation
  • Aircraft-specific loading and operating procedures
  • Medical and operational personnel training
  • Coordination between clinical and aviation teams
  • Emergency and contingency procedures

Taking these additional steps reflects AirCARE1’s commitment to introducing advanced medical capabilities through the proper regulatory channels and maintaining high standards of safety, compliance, and patient care.

Extending Hospital-Level Care Into the Air

Patients receiving inhaled nitric oxide are often medically fragile and dependent on advanced respiratory support. AirCARE1 extends the therapy established at the hospital into the aircraft, helping avoid an unnecessary interruption during transfer.

Our medical team works closely with the sending and receiving facilities to understand the patient’s condition, prepare the required equipment, transition the therapy, continuously monitor the patient, and provide a detailed clinical handoff upon arrival.

By safely integrating a capability not commonly available in air ambulance transport, AirCARE1 can help more medically complex patients reach the specialized care they need.

Why Choose AirCARE1 for a Complex Medical Transport?

AirCARE1 combines advanced clinical capabilities with FAA-regulated operations, meticulous flight planning, experienced medical professionals, and compassionate bedside-to-bedside care.

Every mission is individually evaluated and coordinated around the patient’s medical condition. Our team manages the clinical, aviation, and logistical details so patients, families, and healthcare providers have a knowledgeable partner supporting them throughout the process.

Our Transport Approach Includes:

  • Bedside-to-bedside coordination
  • Experienced critical care medical professionals
  • Medically configured Learjet 60 aircraft
  • Continuous in-flight monitoring
  • Collaboration with sending and receiving medical teams
  • Specialized equipment and backup systems
  • Individualized medical transport planning
  • Compassionate and holistic patient support

Request an iNO Air Ambulance Transport

AirCARE1’s Communications team is available 24 hours a day to review medically complex transport requests. Our flight coordination and medical teams will gather the patient’s clinical information, consult with the appropriate providers, and determine whether iNO air ambulance transport is appropriate. Please call us at 877.752.5906 or Request a Quote below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. AirCARE1 is FAA authorized to carry inhaled nitric oxide aboard its Learjet 60 air ambulance aircraft and can continue the therapy during qualifying transport when it is ordered and clinically appropriate.

Inhaled nitric oxide is transported as a regulated hazardous material. FAA authorization confirms that AirCARE1 has safely incorporated the therapy into its regulated operations and met the applicable standards for training, documentation, handling, and operational control, providing greater protection for patients and added peace of mind for families and referring medical teams.

No. iNO is a specialized capability that is not commonly available aboard air ambulance aircraft. AirCARE1 has also completed the applicable FAA authorization process rather than approaching it solely as an onboard medical service.

Maintaining iNO during transport supports continuity of care and may help preserve oxygenation and pulmonary stability for patients who depend on the therapy.

No. The therapy must be ordered by an appropriate physician. AirCARE1 reviews the patient’s clinical information and works with the sending and receiving medical teams to determine whether the transport can be safely completed.

Select burn or smoke-inhalation patients may receive iNO when serious respiratory complications are present and the therapy has been ordered by the treating physician. iNO supports respiratory management; it does not treat the burn injury itself.

Yes. AirCARE1 coordinates the patient’s journey from the sending bedside to the receiving facility, including ground ambulance arrangements, aircraft transportation, medical care, and clinical handoff.

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