KATE SARSFIELD/ LONDON
Increase in corporate and tourist traffic leads to market opening with converted Hawker
China's first business jet-based medical evacuation (medevac) service has been launched by medical assistance services provider International SOS and indigenous business aircraft charter operator Deer Jet. The move is designed to take advantage of the increase in business and tourist travel within the region and opens up the Chinese medevac market, says International SOS.
The operation, which began last month, uses a mid-size Raytheon Hawker 800XP, reconfigured from an eight-seat passenger charter jet to a "fully equipped air ambulance". Hainan Airlines subsidiary Deer Jet operates the aircraft from its Beijing base with medical personnel and equipment provided by International SOS.
Carol Wong, International SOS business development manager, says: "We have in China until now relied on military-operated helicopters. Although they will continue to be available to us, the business jet will be much more flexible as it is faster, and has a longer range and a larger cabin which can carry two stretchers and two medical crew."
Wong adds: "With more people travelling to and from China there is a growing demand [from insurance companies] for a professional and speedy medical assistance service." With its flying base in Beijing, International SOSsays "the whole of China and Asia-Pacific region [including Korea, Pakistan and Mongolia] are guaranteed medical and transfer services".
International SOS provides medevac operations in Geneva, Johannesburg, Moscow, Papua New Guinea, Singapore (where it is headquartered), Stuttgart and Taipei and says its aim is to provide global evacuation services "within 3h".
Source: Flight International
