An international medical evacuation is much more than a flight.
It’s a complex and delicate operation that combines medicine, logistics, diplomacy, and aviation into a single mission.
Every detail matters — and the coordination between all parties involved is what ensures that a patient receives continuous and safe medical care from one hospital to another, without interruption.
At Air Ambulance Jet, we carry out international medical evacuations and repatriations across the globe, managing every stage with precision and expertise.
Here’s how the process works behind the scenes.
1. Receiving the Alert and Activating the Protocol
Everything begins with an urgent call or message. Within minutes, our medical and operations teams assess the patient’s condition and activate the emergency response protocol.
The goal at this stage is to save time without compromising safety:
- Gathering all available medical information (diagnosis, reports, treatment).
- Contacting the local hospital or attending physicians.
- Informing the family or insurance company about the next steps.
From that moment, every minute counts — and a global coordination effort begins.
2. Medical Evaluation and Mission Planning
Once the medical data is received, the AAJ medical team determines the type of aircraft, equipment, and medical crew required.
Each case is unique — transporting a trauma patient is not the same as transferring someone needing respiratory or cardiac support.
Based on the assessment, we define:
- The required level of life support (basic, advanced, or intensive).
- The appropriate aircraft type (jet, turboprop, or long-range).
- The medical crew composition (intensive care doctor, critical care nurse, paramedic).
We also evaluate the risks associated with altitude, cabin pressure, and travel time, ensuring the patient remains stable throughout the flight.
3. International Logistics and Authorizations
While the medical team prepares, the operations department at Air Ambulance Jet handles all administrative and logistical tasks:
- Overflight and landing permits in all involved countries.
- Customs and health authorizations.
- Coordination with embassies or consulates when repatriation is required.
This phase is critical — even a small delay in obtaining a permit can affect the response time.
That’s why AAJ maintains a 24/7 global network of contacts with airports and health authorities to guarantee fast approvals and seamless coordination.
4. Ground Coordination at Origin and Destination
Every air evacuation begins and ends on the ground.
That’s why AAJ also arranges medical ground ambulances to transfer the patient from the hospital to the airport, and from the arrival airport to the receiving hospital.
Timing must be perfectly synchronized:
- The departure ambulance must arrive precisely when the aircraft is ready for takeoff.
- Upon landing, another ambulance and medical team are waiting on the runway to ensure a smooth handover.
This requires simultaneous coordination across multiple countries and time zones.
5. Real-Time Communication
Throughout the operation, AAJ’s control center maintains constant communication with the aircraft, ground ambulances, and hospitals at both ends.
This real-time connection allows us to:
- Monitor the patient’s condition throughout the flight.
- Keep families and insurers informed.
- Resolve any unforeseen issues instantly and safely.
Thanks to this continuous communication chain, the patient is always under medical supervision, even while in transit.
6. Arrival and Completion of the Operation
Upon landing, the patient is immediately transferred to the destination hospital, where the local medical team receives a detailed clinical report.
The AAJ team confirms safe delivery and remains available for any follow-up support or documentation.
This final stage includes medical reporting, verification of records, and communication with the family or insurance provider — ensuring complete continuity of care.
Coordination: The Heart of Every Medical Mission
A successful international medical evacuation depends on one critical factor: precise coordination.
Every participant — pilots, doctors, nurses, air controllers, authorities, and logistics managers — plays an essential role in a chain where nothing can fail.
At Air Ambulance Jet, we transform complexity into speed, precision, and safety.
Our experience allows us to act efficiently in the most critical moments, ensuring that every patient receives continuous care — no matter where they are in the world.
At Air Ambulance Jet, every flight is a medical mission. Every minute, an opportunity to save a life.
