Air ambulance transportation option for Coronavirus patients
Germany’s FAI Air Ambulance has announced that following the purchase of a portable medical isolation unit manufactured in Norway by EpiGuard AS, known as the EpiShuttle, the company is now ready to start transporting patients with Coronavirus
The company’s Head of Sales Volker Lemke commented: “We have installed a customised stretcher configuration on a Challenger CL604 aircraft, with specific EpiShuttle equipment and accessory modules ready to deploy. We have deployed a dedicated team of 4 ICU Flight Doctors and 8 Flight Paramedics, now trained in accordance with the ECDC European Center for Disease Control Technical Directive: Infection Prevention and Control for the Care of Patients with 2019-nCoV in Healthcare Settings, February 2020.” He added: “Based on our current PIMU capability, FAI will offer transportation of patients with confirmed 2019-nCoV infection on a case by case basis … positive case contacts will also be transported’.”
Limitations placed on patient transports include:
The Health Authority Infectious Disease Notification processes relevant to all jurisdictions has been followed and approved prior to the mission
Receiving care has been confirmed and the receiving hospital is fully informed and willing to accept the patient.
The involved ground ambulance services are briefed accordingly and accept the patient.
The patient and/or relevant family member/legal guardian gives consent to being transported in a PMIU after full disclosure of the risks and limitations involved.
The transport is not in breach of aviation restrictions in place and subject to amendment from time to time as promulgated by international agencies eg: WHO/CDC/National authorities and aviation agencies.
Furthermore, FAI said that following numerous requests from clients, it can now commence repatriations of unaffected, healthy adults and children who are in a location considered to be at high risk of transmission back to their home country, on behalf of governments, international agencies and private clients. Lemke said: “These missions are offered on our Challenger CL604 and CL850, and Global Express aircraft, for up to 13 passengers. All missions are accompanied by a trained dedicated medical team, for pre-flight temperature screening, and the availability of medical/nursing care in flight should the need arise.”
About FAI Technik
FAI Technik is a 100 % subsidiary of German GA-Operator FAI rent-a-jet GmbH. Operating as a full service FBO and MRO, FAI Technik at Nuremberg is licensed for base and line maintenance of the Learjet 60, Challenger 600-series and Bombardier Global Express 700-series, including modifications, aviation upgrades, interior refurbishment and component services such as batteries and wheels. FAI´s EASA part 145 licence is approved by the Cayman Islands and Bermuda, as well as the US FAA and Nigeria. FAI Technik Nuremberg is a distributor for Collins Aerospace, Gogo Business Aviation and GARMIN.
About FAI Aviation Group
FAI Aviation Group operates Germany´s largest fleet of Bombardier business jets. The fleet includes five Global Express, six Challenger 604s and seven Learjet 60s. FAI runs a 14,000 m² carbon-neutral fixed-base operation at its Nuremberg, Germany headquarters, employing a staff of close to 300 people, including 70 mechanics and engineers at its in-house MRO FAI Technik GmbH and another 30 staff at its Berlin base. FAI´s Group consolidated revenues in 2022 were close to € 130 m with a fleet utilization of more than 12,000 hours of flight time.
FAI was proud to receive the Diamond Safety of Flight Award from the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) in May 2018, marking the highest safety recognition awarded by EBAA to member companies operating business aircraft for 50 years or 100.000 hours without accident.
In 2019 FAI received a 10-year anniversary award from MEBAA, reflecting the fact that 20 % of its flying activity is now in the Middle East and was honored with an Aviation Annual Achievement Award, in recognition of its 30 years of air ambulance and special mission flying.
In 2020 and 2021 FAI received the prestigious Award “Air Ambulance Company of the Year” from ITIJ Magazine.
In 2021, FAI was awarded the Pandemic Response Special Award in recognition of its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2022, FAI was awarded “20 years of Aviation Excellence in the Middle East” by MEA Business at the Aviation Innovation Awards.
FAI is official supplier of the McLaren Formula 1 Team.
