When a patient must be urgently repatriated from a distant country, or transferred between hospitals under heavy medical conditions, an air ambulance (MEDEVAC) is often the only viable option. But how does it work concretely? Who calls whom? What equipment on board? This article describes the complete flow of an international medical evacuation and the role of the aviation broker.
When do we speak of MEDEVAC?
MEDEVAC (medical evacuation) is used when a patient cannot travel on a commercial flight — for medical reasons (critical condition, continuous monitoring, ventilation, infectious isolation) or logistics (remote region, no scheduled flight available in time).
Three typical cases: repatriation of a traveller fallen ill or injured abroad, inter-hospital transfer between two facilities to access specialised care, and collective medical evacuation during crises (disasters, conflicts).
Who to activate in an emergency?
For an insured person, the first reflex is to call your travel assistance provider (Mutuaide, Europ Assistance, AXA, etc.), which assigns a regulating physician to assess the need and trigger the mission.
For a company without a dedicated assistance contract, or for a case out of coverage, the aviation broker can be contacted directly: it activates its operator network, mobilises the medical crew and coordinates with departing and receiving hospitals. Air Basel operates 24/7 — a single point of contact handles the request from the first call.
The air ambulance: equipment and configuration
A MEDEVAC-configured aircraft features the equipment of an airborne intensive care unit: floor-fixed stretcher, multi-parameter monitor (heart rate, SpO₂, pressure), ventilator for intubated patients, syringe pumps, defibrillator, medical oxygen, resuscitation kit, emergency medications.
The aircraft choice depends on distance and mission: a business jet for a Geneva–Paris repatriation, a Beechcraft for a regional transfer on a short runway, a medium-haul for transcontinental evacuation.
The medical crew
The on-board crew generally includes an emergency or intensive care physician and a nurse specialised in medical transport, trained in air transport (altitude effects, counter-pressurisation, stress management). For paediatric or neonatal cases, the team is supplemented with the required skills.
The flight crew (pilots, flight mechanics) is also trained for medical operations: priority take-off, landing at airports close to hospitals, night slots, coordination with ground ambulances.
What cost and what lead time?
MEDEVAC cost depends on distance, aircraft type and medical complexity. Typically expect €15,000 to €60,000 for intra-European evacuation, and €80,000 to €250,000 or more for long-haul intercontinental repatriation.
Activation lead time is a few hours to mobilise the medical crew and aircraft, plus flight time to the patient. Air Basel works with a network of operators on permanent standby, reducing this lead time to operational minimum.
The human dimension
Beyond the technical side, a medical evacuation is a difficult moment for the patient and family. Air Basel trains its crews in cultural and religious specifics (language, meals, family escort, rituals) and ensures clear coordination with families at every step.
Helping save lives is more than a profession — it is a vocation. That is the raison d’être of our MEDEVAC service.
A medical evacuation by air mobilises a complete ecosystem: operator, equipped aircraft, medical crew, departing and receiving hospitals, authorities, assistance, family. The aviation broker’s role is to orchestrate this ecosystem and remain the single point of contact from first call to landing. Air Basel is available 24/7 — for an emergency, email contact@airbasel.com with "MEDEVAC" in the subject.