Though an unpleasant thought for critical medical conditions and all, serious accidents do happen. Such extreme conditions can require the services of air ambulance firms. Air ambulance suppliers use a number of aircraft types to supply lifesaving services that are critical. The types of aircraft utilized depend on the individual 's condition and distance to appropriate medical care. Probably the best known category of health transport aircraft is the rotorcraft, or helicopter. Helicopters are especially useful in places and remote places far from airports. Moreover, rotorcraft provides point to point service in the pick up point right to many hospitals. Based on Michael Peat, a Florida-based pilot for Air Critical Care a leading air medical transportation service, helicopters are most useful within a 100-mile range. Beyond 100 miles, helicopters often reduce their edges to fixed-wing aircraft. Rotorcraft generally have slower cruise speeds and shorter ranges than their fixed-wing counterparts. Moreover, cabin space is usually quite limited in helicopters. This dearth of space, along with payload (weight capacity) limits, often prevent a relative from accompanying a patient aboard a helicopter.


In the fixed-wing aircraft type, planes execute several medical evacuation, or medevac, flights. Piston-engine aircraft execute a substantial amount of these medical transportation flights. Piston-driven planes have the advantages of greater speed and range than most helicopters. Moreover, piston-powered planes are often able enough to operate from runways that are very short, providing use of a large proportion of airports. Medevac helicopters generally have not cabins that are bigger than the models of piston planes utilized in air ambulance operations. These cabins regularly permit a relative to accompany patients on medical transportation flights.


Piston planes do have certain restrictions, although they fill an important market in the air ambulance arena. Unlike helicopters, planes need an airport or strip that is appropriate to land. This requires ground transport to complete the leg to the medical facility and limits the availability of landing sites. In addition, the noise and vibration level of piston cabins may be fatiguing for anyone aboard. Piston planes generally lack the more speed and range of the turboprop and jet though great for midrange flights.


Turboprop aircraft combine turbine engines with propellers for several edges. Turbine engines normally operate more easily than reciprocating (piston) engines and need less care. Turbines also work economically over a broader range of temperatures and elevations. From a financial viewpoint, turboprops offer some best-of-both-worlds benefits. They generally have range and greater speed than most piston planes while being more fuel efficient than jet aircraft. For mid- to long-range excursions, turboprops are an invaluable advantage to the air ambulance business.


At the upper end of the airplane spectrum, jet aircraft will be the unrivaled leaders in range, speed, and elevation. Jets have the ability to fly above most weather, allowing for greater excursion completion and more flexibility. Based on Peat, jets have a greater than 90% dispatch rate, meaning they would be the most likely aircraft to be able to complete a trip. In a medical emergency, excursion completion needs to be a big consideration. Jets payload letting them carry more equipment, medical staff, and often a relative or two and also have greater cabin room. In addition, the complex pressurization, external, and electrical systems provide than the bulk of smaller aircraft to get a larger degree of patient comfort and much more choices for medical equipment. For long-range air ambulance flights, jet airplanes are an absolute necessity.


Though great aircraft for medical transportation, jets are not without a few drawbacks. From a financial viewpoint, jets are typically the most expensive aircraft to work. Additionally, jets require runway spans that are greater than their prop-driven counterparts. These runway demands mean jets cannot make use of some runways that are smaller, cutting back the accessibility to suitable landing sites. Additionally, like all planes, jets require ground transportation to the medical facility upon arrival.


When deciding on an air ambulance service, the individual 's condition needs to be the main consideration. For short range transport and Basic Life Support (BLS), helicopter operators are often the top selection. Turboprops and jets will be the strategy to really go for long-range medical transportation and more critical conditions.