When every minute counts, the medical aircraft becomes much more than just a means of transport. In fact, it is a true critical care unit in motion, designed to provide safety, stability, and clinical expertise between two geographical points, whether they are a few hundred or several thousand kilometers apart.
At Airmedic, each medical aircraft is configured to meet the highest standards of intervention. Specialized aircraft, advanced equipment, and highly qualified teams, everything is in place to ensure efficient, rapid, and compassionate medical transport, in full compliance with international standards.
In this article, discover how our planes and helicopters adapt to every type of mission. Then, meet the members of our in-flight team, and learn why our fleet is one of the pillars of our promise: to watch over life, no matter the distance.
Our specialized fleet of medical aircrafts
Airmedic is ready to meet your needs both nationally and internationally thanks to our complementary fleet of medical aircrafts.
Our fleet includes:
• 1 Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft (a second aircraft arriving in fall 2025)
• 6 Pilatus PC-12 aircrafts
• 3 Airbus BK-117 helicopters
• 2 Airbus EC-145E helicopters
Owner of our fleet
Airmedic is the only private Quebec-based company that owns its own fleet of medical aircraft configured as air ambulances. As a result, we maintain full control over availability, equipment, maintenance, logistics, and quality of care. This enables us to provide complete coverage, both locally and internationally. Thanks to the diversity of our medical aircraft and our expert teams, we can respond quickly and effectively.
With Airmedic, you benefit from recognized expertise in air medical transport. Indeed, our medical aircraft are equipped with the most advanced technologies. This allows us to deliver high-quality care in flight while ensuring the safety and comfort of patients from start to finish.
👉 Also read : What is an air ambulance and when do you need one?
Onboard medical equipment: Cutting-edge technology in the service of life
All our aircraft are equipped with comprehensive systems to provide intensive care at high altitude, including :
- Hamilton T1® intelligent transport ventilator : with non-invasive and neonatal ventilation options
- Zoll X Series® monitor-defibrillator : semi-automatic defibrillator, manual cardioversion, and external cardiac pacing
- B. Braun® smart infusion pumps and syringe drivers
- i-STAT® analyzer for blood gas and bedside critical parameter analysis
- Advanced airway management equipment, including a videolaryngoscope and a cricothyrotomy kit
- Chest tube insertion kit
- Neonatal and pediatric transport incubators, compatible with Neo-Mate® and Pedi-Mate® harnesses
- Psychiatric restraint harnesses, accompanied by specific protocols and medications
- Equipment for blood product administration
- Critical care medications, including powerful sedatives and analgesics.
- Multiparameter monitor with capnography, oximetry, blood pressure, ECG, and more
- Comprehensive trauma care kit: cervical collars, splints, dressings, and more
- Onboard piped oxygen and disinfection device
- Surfaces resistant to biological fluids
- ANVIS-9® night vision goggles onboard helicopters for night missions
Focus on the capabilities of each medical aircraft
Learjet 45XR
Fast, autonomous, and medically advanced
- Maximum cruising speed: 860 km/h
- Maximum range: 3,300 km
- Maximum altitude: 51,000 feet
Designed for international repatriations, the Learjet 45XR is equipped to accommodate a patient under intensive care, a medical escort, and also provides enough space to perform critical in-flight procedures.
Pilatus PC-12
Versatile and agile
- Maximum cruising speed: 500 km/h
- Maximum range: 2,900 km
This aircraft can land on short, gravel, or unpaved runways. Its extra-large cargo door also allows for loading a stretcher without tilting, which is crucial for unstable patients.
Airbus BK-117 and EC-145E
For hard-to-reach missions
- Designed for regional operations, especially in remote areas, islands, and northern environments.
- Thanks to their twin-engine configuration compliant with Category A (Class 1) requirements, these helicopters are authorized to operate on H1-certified heliports.
- Airmedic is indeed the only private company in Quebec authorized to land on the H1-certified heliports in Montreal and Chicoutimi.
As a result, our teams deploy these aircraft for urgent missions in isolated or underserved environments.
👉 Also read : Dormez l’esprit tranquille, Airmedic est prête à décoller même de nuit
The crew onboard a medical aircraft
Behind every medical aircraft is a highly specialized human crew, trained to operate in extreme conditions.
Onboard or providing ground support:
- Flight coordinator: strategic point of contact, orchestrating the mission
- Flight dispatcher: analyzes weather conditions and adjusts flight plans based on both the weather and the patient’s condition
- Physician, flight nurse, respiratory therapist: responsible for providing critical care at high altitude
- On-call manager: responsible for initial assessment and rapid activation
- 24/7 on-call physician: available at all times to recommend urgent medical interventions or prescribe appropriate treatments during the mission
👉 Also read: Behind the Scenes of a Medical Aircraft: Who’s Onboard and Why It’s Essential
A medical aircraft, much more than just a plane
A medical aircraft is more than just an equipped vehicle. In reality, it is a mobile critical care unit, supported by a specialized crew, precise coordination, and cutting-edge technology. As a result, this synergy ensures the safety of the most vulnerable patients, even in the most complex situations.
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