Southeast Asia Identified As Key Market For Air Ambulance Aircraft

An air  ambulance conversion module for the 400XT remanufactured aircraft has been unveiled by Nextant Aerospace. The equipment, based on a platform by Spectrum Aeromed, enables the Nextant 400XT to be converted from a VIP configuration to a fully ACLS capable critical care room with self-contained ambulance bed in less than 30 minutes. Nextant said in a news release that the 400XT air ambulance gives operators the speed and range of larger aircraft but at a significantly lower acquisition and operating costs.

Since launching in Asia in 2012, Nextant has seen strong interest in the market. It expects the introduction of its air ambulance module to stimulate further demand and drive sales of the platform as the market for such services grows. Demand for special missions aircraft has seen dramatic growth across the globe in recent years with aircraft equipped for emergency medical services leading the segment. Ascend, the aviation consultancy, recently estimated that the number of fixed-wing emergency medical service aircraft has increased by 40% since 20071.

The Nextant Aerospace factory-installed system, which is designed to work as a convertible VIP interior and costs less than $100,000 to install, includes a quick change modules which enable flight crew to have readily available life support solutions at a moment’s notice, and a seat rail adapter allowing the aircraft to be converted from standard configuration to air ambulance configuration in less than 30 minutes. The base system is completely self-contained and includes a 3,500 ltr. oxygen bottle, inverter, dual air-pumps and vacuum-pump, manual loading system, stretcher bridge with mounting poles.

In addition to a convertible interior, Nextant will also offer a dedicated air ambulance interior for operators that don’t plan to offer business charter flights as well.

“One of the most common requests we’re getting from fleet operators is for platforms that can be used to provide air ambulance services,” said Jay Heublein, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing. “The 400XT is the ideal aircraft for these missions due primarily to its exceptional combination of range and best in class operating rates. We have seen strong initial demand from Asia so ABACE is the perfect environment to announce this new program.”

“The air ambulance module is a great addition to the 400XT and one which we anticipate being very popular. This is our first Special Mission application and we look forward to expanding our Special Missions portfolio in the near future.”

(Nextant 400XT image from file)

FMI: www.nextantaerospace.com