We have been quite vocal about the fact that air ambulance services will have a crucial role to play in the fight against COVID-19 as the battle hardens. It seems that the industry is now an integral part of the fight. Amid challenges that are being faced by medical flight crews and companies, they have displayed exemplary grit to keep the services afloat.
Air Ambulance Services are Brining Back Americans
Most internal national borders today stand sealed down. Only those flights that have special permission are allowed to fly between countries. Commercial flights are increasingly being used to fly patients who are not infected. However, there are a lot of Americans out there who are battling COVID-19 infections in foreign lands. Air ambulance companies are now helping evacuate them. The effort is ongoing at a war footing in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. A Florida-based air ambulance company is leading it currently. The medical flight crew consists of two medical professionals and two pilots enveloped in biohazard suits.
Phoenix Air is Leading the Fight in the Air
Phoenix Air, at the current time, is the only air ambulance company that is equipped to tackle highly contagious diseases. It has two Gulfstream G-III aircraft that feature Aeromedical Biological Containment Systems or ABCS. They are capable of carrying 4 infected patients each. The system was put in place during the Ebola crisis and had proved highly successful. The model is now being used to fight the COVID-19 crisis. The medical flight company plans to add two more specialized aircraft to its fleet.
Support for Air Ambulance Operations in the UK
The UK is again leading the way when it comes to offering support for the medical flight industry. It is believed that the Great North Air Ambulance service will now be offered free fuel during the crisis. Fund-raising is a big concern for the industry in the country due to the current COVID-19 situation.
