The first thing that must be thought about is the aeroplane itself. If possible, pick a service with planes that come with with large fuel tanks, so as to lessen fuel stops that might delay the transport of the patient. A large aeroplane with a big fuel tank usually also comes with a larger entry doorway, which will make loading and unloading easier.

One more factor to know about an air evac service is how many pilots they have per plane. Having 2 pilots is definitely better than having one pilot, as there will be a sense of security or safety net if ever something happens to one of the pilots. Also, learn about how the air evacuation service chooses their pilots. Ask how many hours pilots are required to have flown before being permitted to fly their air ambulance aircraft. 2,000 hours of flying experience is usually a safe number.

Aside from the flight crew, one must also mull over the quality of the medical team on board. The pilots may be flying the plane, but these are the people who will be taking care of and handling the safety of the passenger on board. The ability of the medical staff is crucial. Not all air evacuation services train their medical crew for flight-specific crises and circumstances. Be sure to choose a service that has self-motivation to do so.

One more factor to consider is how well outfitted an air evac service’s aeroplane is. Medical equipment seems like it should be the same for all air ambulances, but due to the large costs of business, many air evacuation services lease out their planes. Because of this, many planes do not have the entire array of the medical equipment that might possibly be necessary. This is a chance that one should never be willing to undertake.

There are also air evac services that employ lax policies about people riding with the patient. Patients are far more likely to handle the flight better when surrounded by family or friends, so this is a vital matter to think about. Some air evac providers will permit family and friends onboard, but for a high price. It would be a good idea to search for a service that lets at least a couple of people on the plane with the passenger, gratis.

Be sure to pick an air evac service that offers bedside to bedside service. This means that the flight and medical crew will stay with the patient until he or she arrives at the hospital or medical facility. This way, the medical crew can inform the hospital staff on the patient’s status and give them all the data they will need.

Denise K. Wayne is a long-time expert on air evac services. One can learn more regarding how to hire an air ambulance at her website.