What an air ambulance flight includes
An air ambulance flight is more than the airplane. When you call Air Ambulance Central, a flight coordinator arranges every part of the transfer as one trip:
- Ground ambulance pickup at the patient's bedside: hospital, nursing home or home.
- A medically configured aircraft with an FAA-approved stretcher, oxygen, heart monitor and defibrillator, suction and IV equipment.
- A flight medical crew matched to the patient: typically a flight nurse and flight paramedic, plus a respiratory therapist or physician when needed.
- A second ground ambulance waiting at the arrival airport to take the patient to the receiving bed.
- Coordination with both medical teams, so the sending and receiving doctors are briefed before departure.
All flights are operated by FAA-certified Part 135 air carriers, and patient care is provided by licensed medical transport providers.
Who uses an air ambulance?
Families and hospital case managers arrange air ambulance flights for patients from basic to critical care, including:
- Stroke, heart and cardiac patients
- Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries
- Burn and wound patients
- Cancer, hospice and fragile elderly patients moving closer to family
- Transplant patients and organ recipients
- Travelers who became ill or injured away from home
Air ambulance, medical escort or ground ambulance?
Not every patient needs a private medical aircraft. Your coordinator will help you choose the safest option that fits the patient's condition and your budget.
| Option | Best for | Typical distance |
|---|---|---|
| Air ambulance (private aircraft) | Patients who must lie flat, need ICU-level care or can't fly commercially | Over 200–300 miles, domestic or international |
| Medical escort on a commercial flight | Stable patients who can sit upright for takeoff and landing | Any distance with airline service |
| Commercial stretcher | Stable patients who must lie down, mainly on international routes | Long international flights |
| Ground ambulance | Short transfers or patients who can't fly | Usually under 200 miles |
How quickly can a flight be arranged?
Many domestic flights can be arranged within hours. The main things that set the timing are the patient's medical clearance, a confirmed bed at the receiving hospital (an air ambulance can't depart without one) and, for international trips, passports and country permits. Our coordinators answer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at 1-800-827-0745.
Arranging medical flights since 1983. One call, and we handle the aircraft, the medical crew and the ground ambulances at both ends.
Common questions
When is an air ambulance needed instead of a ground ambulance?
For trips longer than about 200 to 300 miles, an airplane air ambulance is usually faster, more comfortable for the patient and often not much more expensive than a long ground transfer. Shorter trips are usually better by ground ambulance.
Who is on board an air ambulance flight?
Most flights are staffed by a registered flight nurse and a flight paramedic trained in flight physiology. A respiratory therapist is added for patients on a ventilator, and a physician can be added when the patient's condition requires one.
Is an air ambulance only for emergencies?
No. Most airplane air ambulance flights are planned, non-emergency transfers, such as moving a patient closer to family, to a specialty hospital, or home from a trip. Emergency scene response is usually handled by local helicopter services.
Can a family member fly along?
Usually one family member can travel with the patient. Space depends on the aircraft, so tell your coordinator when you call.
Last reviewed October 2026 by the Air Ambulance Central flight coordination team.