Blog

247 Aviation, a leading provider of aeromedical transportation services, is proud to announce the successful completion of its first medical repatriation utilising the newly state-of-the-art Spectrum stretcher on board its Pilatus PC-12 aircraft. With the largest fleet of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in the UK, 247 Aviation offers unparalleled versatility and reliability for medical transport missions.
The patient, who received life-altering news just a week prior, was transported from Spain to Northern Ireland, where they will continue their recovery under the care of the NHS. We extend our best wishes to the patient for a speedy recovery.

247 Aviation is a leading provider of aeromedical transportation services, dedicated to delivering exceptional care to our patients. We continuously strive to innovate and enhance our operations to make our services more accessible and to reach a wider audience.

Having taken onboard feedback from clients, 247 Aviation, is pleased to announce the addition of the Spectrum Aeromed 2800 Series Stretcher System to its Pilatus PC-12 fleet.

The Pilatus PC-12 is a modern, Swiss-built aircraft with the very latest technology on board and a reputation for outstanding performance, reliability and operational flexibility. Capable of flying at altitudes of 30,000ft and at speeds over 330 mph it provides both the range and versatility to cover all of Europe from the UK, from both major international airports and smaller remote airfields, reducing ground transportation times and getting the patient closer to where they need to be.

This upgrade to the PC-12 fleet will significantly enhance the service we can offer to our clients and patients, allowing us to provide a more cost-effective option for level 0 – 3 transfers within the United Kingdom and near-Europe locations.As well as avoiding lengthy road transfers, it will also allow us to access more remote locations, providing the option of wing-to-wing transfers onto commercial carriers or longer-range air ambulance platforms.

This Spectrum Aeromed System is lightweight and compact yet has full critical care capabilities. It has a functional and durable design and has been installed in single- patient configuration, still allowing space for a companion.

The stretcher has fully adjustable backrest, thick foam pad, lightweight, durable frame and expandable armrests for increased patient comfort. The expandable arm rests better accommodate bariatric patients and allow medical crew more access for patient care.

This lightweight deck is easy to remove and maintain. It provides one-hand movement for patients up to 400 pounds (181 kg). The stretcher pivots from full extension outside the aircraft to a locked position inside, eliminating the need for heavy lifting on the part of the crew.

247 Aviation, the largest operator of the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in the UK, using these aircraft on a variety of missions from the transportation of NHS surgical teams and transplant organs to executive charter. The large rear door makes loading and unloading a very straightforward process, and the aircraft lends itself perfectly to the safe and comfortable movement of patients.

By incorporating the Spectrum Aeromed stretcher system into our PC-12 aircraft, 247 Aviation demonstrates its commitment to providing the highest level of patient care.  With a team of highly skilled professionals and a fleet of modern aircraft, we are committed to providing an unparalleled, exceptional service to our patients and clients, 24/7.

In healthcare, patient safety is paramount. Each year on 17th September, the World Health Organization observes World Patient Safety Day, emphasising the importance of ensuring that no patient suffers harm during medical care. This year, as we join healthcare professionals and organisations worldwide in raising awareness about patient safety, we also reflect on the unique role our private jet air ambulance service plays in protecting patients during critical times.

The Role of Air Ambulances in Patient Safety

In emergency situations where every second counts, transporting patients swiftly and safely can be the difference in a patient’s outcome. This is where air ambulances come into play, providing rapid medical transport for those in urgent need of care.

However, ensuring patient safety during air transport requires meticulous planning, coordination, and execution by a dedicated team of medical and aviation experts. From the moment a call is received, our team works relentlessly to manage every detail of the journey with precision, always placing patient safety at the heart of the operation.

Our Commitment to Safety on Every Flight

Highly Trained Medical Teams:

Every flight is staffed with a highly trained medical team, comprising doctors, nurses, and paramedics who specialise in emergency and critical care. They are equipped to handle a variety of medical conditions, ensuring that patients receive the same level of care in the air as they would in a hospital. This constant, expert attention significantly reduces the risk of complications during transport.

Safety Protocols and Procedures:

From conducting pre-flight medical assessments to real-time in-flight monitoring, our team adheres to rigorous safety protocols to minimise risks during transport. We collaborate closely with hospital staff, patients, and their families to devise a personalised care plan that addresses individual needs. Additionally, we conduct regular safety checks of our aircraft, equipment, and procedures to ensure that we consistently meet the highest standards of care.

Collaborative Care Approach:

We firmly believe that collaborating with patients and their families is vital for delivering safe, personalised care. Prior to each flight, we engage patients and their loved ones in discussions about the transport process, their medical needs, and the best course of action to ensure both their safety and comfort.

Global Reach, Rapid Response:

Our private jet air ambulance service operates on a global scale, allowing us to respond quickly to medical emergencies anywhere in the world. Swift interventions often prevent further complications or deterioration of the patient’s condition.

The Impact of Air Ambulance Services on Global Patient Safety
In today’s interconnected world, where patients may require medical care across borders, air ambulances play an essential role in global patient safety. Our private jet ambulances not only reduce transport times but also mitigate many of the risks associated with traditional ground ambulances.

During medical transport, ensuring patient comfort and care remains our top priority. However, it is our steadfast commitment to safety at every stage that distinguishes our service. From managing in-flight oxygen levels to coordinating landing and take-off procedures with medical urgency in mind, our entire operation is designed to be both patient-centred and safety-driven.

247 Aviation is excited to announce the latest expansion of its operations by welcoming Silver Aviation onto our Air Operators Certificate. This strategic partnership, unveiled at this year’s Air Charter Expo at London Biggin Hill Airport, represents a significant step forward for both companies.

247 Aviation Air Ambulance is proud to introduce its medical team, who ensure the highest level of care for patients during air transport.

Leading the team is Dr. Neil Crooks our Medical Director. Dr Crooks has worked in the aeromedical industry for almost 20 years’ and brings a wealth of experience in complex aeromedical transfers, critical care and anaesthetics. He oversees the clinical aspects of medical operations, leading a team that places an emphasis on delivering high quality patient care.

Deputy Medical Director, Dr. James Hardwick, is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia. He brings over 15 years of experience in infant, paediatric and adult transfer, retrieval, and aeromedical repatriation. His other interests in organ donation, point-of-care ultrasound, and medical education contribute significantly to medical decision-making within the team.

Clinical Services Director, Adam Broom, comes to 247 Aviation with 20 years’ of experience in the aeromedical industry. His role is to oversee all aspects of clinical delivery, supporting the medical director, to ensure strong clinical governance.

The combined experience of our senior clinical team is the cornerstone of 247 Aviation Air commitment to providing a safe, effective, and well-led aeromedical repatriation service.

247 Aviation is a leading provider of aeromedical services in the UK, offering a wide range of solutions to meet the needs of patients, healthcare providers, and organisations worldwide. With a network of aircraft, 247 Aviation Air Ambulance is committed to providing safe, efficient, and compassionate care to patients on every continent.

Aeromedical services encompass a wide range of medical care and transportation services provided to patients in the aviation environment. These services play a central role in ensuring the safe and timely evacuation and treatment of patients with critical illnesses or injuries, particularly in remote or challenging locations.

247 Aviation’s aeromedical services include:

Case Studies

247 Aviation has a long history of providing safe and efficient aeromedical services to patients around the world. Here are a few case studies that demonstrate the company’s commitment to excellence:

✔️ 247 Aviation successfully repatriated a critically ill patient from a remote location to a specialised care facility. The patient was transported on a jet aircraft equipped with a full ICU setup staffed by a team of specialised medical personnel.

✔️ 247 Aviation provided emergency air ambulance transport for a patient in a life-threatening situation. The patient was transported from a rural hospital to a major medical centre supported with ICU level care.

Our Commitment to Safety and Quality

Aeromedical services offer several significant benefits, including improved patient outcomes, reduced risk of complications and efficient and specialised patient transport.

247 Aviation aeromedical staff possess specific qualifications and undergo rigorous training to work in this demanding field. Their expertise, training, and commitment to patient care make them invaluable assets in the delivery of aeromedical services worldwide.

We are committed to providing the highest level of safety and quality in all of our aeromedical services. The company’s aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and staffed by highly trained and experienced medical professionals.

With advancements in medical technology and aviation capabilities, aeromedical services are poised to continue evolving and expanding, further enhancing patient care and transportation in the aviation environment.

247 Aviation is a leading provider of aeromedical services, offering a wide range of solutions to meet the needs of patients, healthcare providers, and organisations worldwide. With a global network of bases and aircraft, 247 Aviation is committed to providing safe, efficient, and compassionate care to patients on every continent.

247 Aviation, a leading UK-based provider of aeromedical services, today announced the appointment of three experienced medical professionals to its team. Dr Neil Crooks joins as Medical Director, Dr James Hardwick as Deputy Medical Director, and Mr Adam Broom as Clinical Services Manager.

“We are thrilled to welcome Neil, James, and Adam to our team,” said Stanley Edgar, managing director of SERE Holding Ltd. “As we expand our aeromedical capabilities, their expertise and experience will be invaluable in delivering the highest quality care to our patients.”

With these key appointments, 247 Aviation is well-positioned to continue its commitment to providing the highest quality aeromedical care to patients worldw247 Aviation is a leading UK-based provider of aeromedical services. The company operates a Lear 45 and Pilatus PC12 fully equipped medical aircraft and provides a range of aeromedical services, including air ambulance, repatriation, and medical evacuation. 247 Aviation is committed to providing patients with the highest quality aeromedical care worldwide.

Patient repatriations facilitate the transfer of patients back to their home base, ensuring the continuity of medical care they require to make a significant recovery. Suffering a sudden accident or illness in a foreign country can be an extremely traumatic experience, for both the patient and relatives, particularly if specialised medical treatment is unavailable abroad. Depending on how significant the injury or illness is, flying home commercially may not be feasible as it may cause extreme discomfort to the patient or further damage to their health. In cases like this, patient repatriation is often the best solution.

247 Aviation’s Learjet45XR is a specially configured intensive care equipped jet, which is especially designed for aeromedical transport of critically ill patients. This aircraft is fully equipped with a range of the latest airportable medical equipment including a range of monitors, ventilators, and complex-care equipment to ensure that the patient is monitored, every possible situation is catered for, should the patient’s health require immediate assistance in flight. The jet is equipped with a bespoke and comfortable stretcher to maximise patient comfort during flight.

COORDINATION AND PLANNING

Once the repatriation has been confirmed; 247Aviation’s experienced operations team and flight nurse coordination team will carefully coordinate the transfer of the patient, by liaising with medical professionals and transportation coordinators to ensure a safe and efficient transfer of the individual. This process usually includes the transfer of the patient from the hospital to the airport, where the aircraft will be waiting to transport the individual to the chosen destination. Every patient repatriation case is different. Therefore, patients are assessed and categorised depending on their current health status, physical mobility and how high-risk they are. All these factors are considered and will determine which medical professionals are required to accompany the patient onboard. All decisions are made to ensure the patient’s health and comfort are always placed at the forefront of the operation.

DAY OF PATIENT REPATRIATION

Prior to travel, the flight crew and the medical team will have a team briefing to ensure that everyone is well informed for the day ahead. The medical team will brief the patient profile, medications/treatments on board, oxygen requirements and travel arrangements. The flight crew will brief the weather (including any expectation of turbulence during the flight which may cause discomfort for the passenger), the flight path and expected schedule for the day. Once the briefing is complete, our team will fly to the nearest airport to the patient’s location.

Upon arrival, the medical team will usually travel to the hospital to meet the patient. During this time, the patient and/or relatives, can express their concerns and ask any questions they may have. The medical team will also conduct a final assessment to determine that they are fit to travel by air, and that the transfer will not cause any further deterioration to the patient’s health. If there is any doubt, this will be expressed to the patient and/or to their relatives.

If the patient is deemed fit for travel, the repatriation will go ahead as planned and an ambulance will transfer the patient and their travel companions to the airport. Once the ambulance has reached the airport, it will be driven airside to meet the medical team and flight crew at the aircraft. Depending on how physically able the patient is, they will either walk on to the aircraft, or they will be lifted onto the aircraft using the stretcher equipment.

Throughout the flight, the medical team will consistently monitor the patient and note any changes in their condition. Medication for pain relief, as well as oxygen, will be supplied to the patient (at the discretion of the medical team), to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible. Next to the stretcher, there are additional seats for travel companions which will help with any anxiety the patient and/or their relatives may have. Throughout the flight, any questions or concerns are always addressed and welcome, to help ease everyone involved in the operation.

There is always constant communication between the medical team and the pilots which is particularly important should there be any issues during the flight. The pilots are regularly kept up to date with the patient’s condition. In the unlikely event of concerning deterioration to the patient’s condition, the medical team may decide that the patient’s condition requires immediate on-ground medical attention. In this case, the flight crew will relay the information to ATC to get the patient on the ground, to seek medical assistance as soon as possible.

Once the aircraft has arrived at the patient’s home base, an ambulance will transfer the patient to the hospital (if further treatment is required and/or they require medical supervision) or they will be transported to recover in the comfort of their own homes.

Should you have any queries regarding patient repatriations, please do not hesitate to contact our team by calling on +44(0)28 9344 5956 or filling out a contact form under the “Contact Us” section on our website!