AirMed’s growth continues with another first for the Oxford based air ambulance specialist. The worldwide capabilities on their Learjet 35A fleet have been enhanced with the issuance of an EASA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of dual long range navigation equipment and the addition dual long range communications on G-JMED (serial no. 671).

This EASA approved STC installation meets the requirements for unrestricted MNPS operations across the North Atlantic and meets all navigation and communication requirements throughout the rest of the world. In essence this means that AirMed can now fly shorter routes across the North Atlantic including the North Atlantic Tracks (NAT Tracks). This can have a significant impact on the sector times and can even take out the requirement for refuelling stops. This greatly reduces the costs, the savings of which are passed directly to the client.  As an example, as long as weather permits AirMed can now fly non-stop from the East Coast of Canada to the UK without the need to undertake the usual tech stop in Iceland, which saves £2,500 on that sector alone! Other examples would include from the West Coast of Africa to South America and the Azores to the East Coast of Canada.

All of the work was undertaken by AirMed Engineering in collaboration with Lees Avionics on-site at their base at London Oxford Airport. This is the first time in the UK that this upgrade has been carried out and approved on a Learjet 35A and it represented a major piece of work for the Engineering department.

The upgrade represents an investment of over $150,000 however AirMed’s Managing Director Rupert Dent, feels it is worth every penny; “AirMed is all about the provision of the best quality service achievable to the client, this investment is just one part of the ongoing business development plan being implemented by AirMed. We felt that in order to give first class patient care, AirMed needed to do all they could to ensure reduced sector times and minimise the need for tech stops, all while passing on cost savings and additional benefits to our clients.”

Over the last twelve months the percentage of intensive care transfers undertaken by AirMed has increased to over 30%, this is only set to continue to grow following their EURAMI “Special Care” Accreditation and with the launch of the new neonatal transfer service ‘AM AirBorn’ in March this year. With this in mind this avionics upgrade was regarded a necessity.

The systems that have been installed into G-JMED are the following: dual Universal UNS-1Lw Flight Management Systems and dual long range communications systems. The upgrade entailed a considerable amount of work as the complete interior of the aircraft had to be stripped out to allow installation of the required cabling and antennas.

AirMed are now finalising the schedule for the same upgrade to be implemented on their second Learjet 35A, G-ZMED. It is planned that this work would be completed before the end of 2011.

All in all, the past 12 months have proved to be quite significant in AirMeds quest to move forward and grow the operation.  The addition of EFB’s, along with full worldwide route approval, are all steps which prove the commitment and determination of the entire company to reach that goal.