What is a Medevac Flight?

Understanding Emergency Air Medical Transport

What is a Medevac Flight? In emergency medicine, few services are as critical as medical evacuation flights – commonly known as Medevac. Medical evacuation flights were specifically designed to evacuate wounded military personnel by air from combat zones. Now, however, the term “medevac” broadly includes any emergency air medical transport, both military and civilian, used for critically ill or injured patients.

Today, these lifesaving medical flight services are commonly called air ambulances, though regional names like Air Evac, Flight For Life, or STAT Flight persist. Regardless of terminology, the purpose of a medical evacuation flight remains constant: rapid, advanced medical care when every second counts.

How Do Medevac Flights Work?

Airborne Intensive Care Units

Medevac flights operate as in-air ICUs, bridging emergency scenes or rural hospitals with advanced trauma centers. Unlike standard ground ambulances, air medical crews provide advanced interventions while in flight:

• Advanced cardiac life support
• Critical trauma stabilization

Medevacs and in-flight health services are essential for:

• Severe traumatic injuries
• Time-sensitive medical emergencies
• Remote area rescues where ground transport is impractical

Types of Medevac Aircraft

Medevac Helicopters

Helicopter ambulances are deal for emergency scene responses or regional hospital transfers within 200 miles:

• A-star
• EC-135
• Sikorsky S76
• Bell 407
• Cruising speed of medical helicopters is around 120–160 mph
• Landing requirements for medevac: small clearings (e.g., highways, fields)

Fixed-Wing Aircraft

Fixed-wing aircraft transport is used for longer distances or international transfers:

• King Air fixed-wing aircraft
• Cruising speed: 300–500 mph
• These aircrafts require runways but offer ICU-level care over hundreds of miles

PHI Air Medical: A Nationwide Network

PHI Air Medical operates extensive air medical services across the U.S. under multiple branding partnerships, including:

These partnerships provide a network of nationwide coverage for PHI Air Medical services.

Inside the Medevac Process

Emergency Activation

Activation occurs via 911 dispatch, hospitals, or on-scene responders. PHI’s communication centers operate 24/7, rapidly mobilizing aircraft and crews.

Crew Composition

• Helicopter crews: Pilot, flight nurse, flight paramedic
• Fixed-wing aircraft crews: Additional critical care physicians for complex cases

Patient Preparation and In-flight Care

• Trauma care: spinal stabilization, hemorrhage control, airway management
• Medical emergencies: cardiac monitoring, medication management, ventilator support
• Equipment: Cardiac monitors, portable ultrasound, IV pumps, emergency medications, blood products

Medevac crews provide constant updates to the receiving hospitals, ensuring immediate care upon landing.

The Financial Aspect: Insurance and Medevac Flights

Air ambulances and air medical transport is costly due to operating expenses, specialized equipment, and staffing. Most health insurance companies only cover a portion of air ambulance services, often leaving significant expenses uncovered.

Protecting Yourself with PHI Cares

PHI Cares membership eliminates out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary flights operated by PHI Air Medical and its cooperative partner air medical services. For roughly the cost of one cup of coffee a month, the entire household will have financial protection from the cost of a medical flight. This means no out-of-pocket costs if you or anyone in your household is flown from coast to coast.

Safety and Technological Advancements in Air Medical

PHI Air Medical maintains rigorous safety standards:

• Aircraft maintenance exceeding FAA requirements
• Specialized pilot training
• Advanced crew certifications
• Night vision systems
• GPS dispatch coordination

Community Impact of PHI Cares and PHI Air Medical Network

For rural and urban communities alike, timely air medical coverage can be lifesaving. Medevac significantly improves patient outcomes by providing rapid access to advanced care within critical “golden hours” following severe trauma or medical emergencies.

Why Consider An Air Medical Membership?

Choosing an air medical membership is proactive emergency preparedness, ensuring focus remains on recovery rather than unexpected financial burdens. PHI Cares membership provides peace of mind, protecting families wherever they travel or reside within covered regions.

Understanding Medevac flights enhances appreciation of their complexity and importance, underlining why these medical flight services remain vital components of modern emergency medical care.