Medical Transportation

[Infographic] Which Aircraft Do I Use for an Air Ambulance Medical Transport?

Need to transport a patient or loved one but don’t know much about Air Ambulance services, like what aircraft are used and why?

At AirCARE1 we are passionate about educating our healthcare partners as well as the general public about the medical transport industry. We get a lot of questions and confusion around the aircraft used for medical transports, specifically when to use a rotary-wing (helicopter) aircraft versus a fixed-wing aircraft (airplane). Many factors play into determining which aircraft is better suited for the patients’ medical situation and transport needs. We invite you to review our infographic as it guides you through each factor to make an informed decision. Our goal is for you to be prepared and informed when requesting a quote from an Air Ambulance provider.

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View a Text Transcript of the Infographic

Your medical situation and transport needs will help determine which aircraft you want. Factors include urgency, distance, level of comfort, and degree of medical care.

There are 2 types of Air Ambulance aircraft used for medical transports, Rotary-Wing (Helicopter) and Fixed-wing (airplane).

Here are the differences between the two types of aircraft:

  • Drop-off location: Rotary-wing aircraft can drop patients off directly at a hospital while fixed-wing aircraft drop off the patients at the airport with ground ambulance transporting taking them to the hospital.
  • Patient type: Rotary-wing aircraft can transport patients who are emergent, trauma patients, and critically ill patients. Fixed-wing aircraft can transport emergent and critically ill patients, as well as non-emergent patients.
  • Distance of transport: Rotary-wing aircraft are used for short distances under, typically under 350 miles but often closer. Fixed-wing aircraft are used for long-range distances over 350 miles up to 2700 miles with the use of some aircraft.
  • Ownership: Rotary-wing aircraft are often owned by hospitals and city/county EMS groups. Fixed-wing aircraft companies are usually privately owned.
  • Cost: Rotary-wing and fixed-wing transports are all costly, with rotary-wing transports slightly more expensive.

Examples of Aircraft Types:

• Rotor Wing: Bell 407
• Propeller Aircraft (Piston Engine): Cessna 414
• Propeller Aircraft (TurboProp Engine): King Air 200
• Jet Aircraft (Turbofan Engine): Learjet 60

Air Ambulance Aircraft Usages:

Distance:

  • Helicopter: 100-350 miles
  • Cessna 414: 350-1250 miles
  • King Air 200: 350-1580 miles
  • Learjet 60: 350-2700 miles

Altitude:

  • Learjet 60: 43,000 feet (above adverse weather)
  • King Air 200: 30,000 feet (through cumulonimbus adverse weather)
  • Cessna 414: 25,000 feet (through cumulonimbus adverse weather)
  • Helicopter: 10,000 feet (under and in all adverse weather)

Speed:

  • Helicopter: 160 mph
  • Cessna 414: 250 mph
  • King Air 200: 310 mph
  • Learjet 60: 550 mph

Max Flying Time:

  • Helicopter: 2.2 hours
  • Cessna 414: 2.5 hours
  • King Air 200: 3.5 hours
  • Learjet 60: 5 hours

In 2 hours, each aircraft could fly:

  • Helicopter could fly up to 320 miles
  • Cessna 414 could fly up to 500 miles
  • King Air 200 could fly up to 620 miles
  • Learjet 60 could fly up to 1100 miles

Crew Capacity:

  • Helicopter: 1 pilot, 2 medical crew, 1 patient
  • Cessna 414: 1 pilot, 1 family member (sits beside pilot), 2 medical crew, 1 patient
  • King Air 200: 1 pilot, 2 medical crew, 2 patients, 1 family member
  • Learjet 60: 2 pilots, 2 medical crew (space for 3 more), 1 patient, 1-2 family members

Pros and Cons of each aircraft transport:

  • Helicopter:
    • Pros: Can land almost anywhere. Delivers patients directly to a medical facility.
    • Cons: Susceptible to weather conditions. Not a long-distance option. High emergent costs.
  • Cessna 414:
    • Pros: Short-range flights. Can operate from short runways. Cost-effective.
    • Cons: Need to utilize ground transportation to bring patients to aircraft. Low altitudes are uncomfortable for the patient. Weight sensitivity causes unreliable passenger count.
  • King Air 200:
    • Pros: Rugged but dependable performance. Can transport more than one patient.
    • Cons: Need to utilize ground transportation to bring patients to aircraft. Slow for long-distance transports. Low altitudes are uncomfortable for the patient.
  • Learjet 60:
    • Pros: Longest and fastest flight option. Pilots have control of the cabin environment and altitude range to provide ultimate comfort.
    • Cons: Need to utilize ground transportation to bring patients to aircraft. Requires the most runway space for takeoff and landing out of other aircraft.
Denise Waye

Denise Waye is the Founder and President of AirCARE1. Her career as a critical care registered nurse started in 1994 revealing her many years of experience in the field. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from the University of New Mexico and has worked in a variety of critical care patient settings including ICU, CCU, and the emergency department. Shortly after becoming a flight nurse with another provider, Denise founded AirCARE1 in 2004 on the premise of providing unmatched patient care with a holistic approach along with outstanding customer service.