Air Ambulance FAQs
Your questions about air ambulance services, answered.
Your Guide to Air Ambulance FAQs
Searching for reliable answers about air ambulance services? These Air Ambulance FAQs explain what to expect—clearly and simply. At SkyCare, we’ve supported hundreds of families, insurers, and hospitals through medical repatriations. This section brings together the most common questions, so you can feel confident before taking the next step.
What Do Air Ambulance Services Include?
We don’t just fly patients—we manage the entire journey. Every air ambulance mission includes a clinical team, critical care equipment, and all ground transfers. Our team also works with hospitals on both sides to ensure seamless coordination. Because we plan everything in advance, there are no surprises or hidden costs.
How We Tailor Each Flight
Every case is different. That’s why we assign staff, equipment, and aircraft based on the patient’s needs. For example, a standard transfer may include a doctor and critical care nurse. A paediatric flight, however, could involve a neonatal team and incubator. We review all clinical reports before confirming the final plan.
Why Our Air Ambulance FAQs Matter
When you’re under pressure, clear information makes all the difference. Our Air Ambulance FAQs give you a fast overview of how the service works, what it includes, and how to get started. If you still have questions, our team is always available to help—24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Ready to Speak With Us?
Whether you’re dealing with an emergency or planning ahead, SkyCare is ready. Contact us now for a fast, clear, and fully personalised quote.
An air ambulance is a medically equipped aircraft used to transport patients who require urgent or specialist medical care during flight. It functions like a flying intensive care unit and is staffed by experienced medical professionals trained in in-flight care.
SkyCare operates air ambulances across the UK, Europe, and worldwide, ensuring fast, clinically safe transfers for both critical and non-critical patients. In addition to urgent medical cases, we also support private clients and high-net-worth individuals seeking faster, more personalised medical transport with full discretion and comfort.
You can take a virtual tour of our aircraft to see the onboard setup, or meet the SkyCare team who deliver care throughout each journey.
An air ambulance is necessary when a patient cannot safely travel by commercial means due to their medical condition, or when rapid transport is required between hospitals or across borders. Common examples include ICU transfers, neonatal care, stroke recovery, or access to specialist treatment abroad.
It’s also the safest option for immunocompromised patients, or those who are unable to obtain a fit-to-fly certificate for a commercial flight. In such cases, a medical escort or air ambulance may be the only safe alternative. You can read more about returning home when sick abroad in this guide.
Specialist Care for Complex Cases
SkyCare air ambulances are equipped for intensive care transfers. Our medical teams include doctors and nurses trained in critical care medicine. They manage complex cases in-flight, including ventilated or intubated patients and those who need cardiac monitoring or continuous IV support.
Advanced Equipment Onboard
We carry advanced tools like arterial blood gas (ABG) monitoring systems and a full range of emergency medication. Each intensive care mission is led by a consultant-level intensive care (ITU) doctor, who provides clinical oversight from departure to arrival.
Our goal is to ensure that patients receive the same level of care in the air as they would in a hospital. Learn more about our intensive care air ambulance service here.
Absolutely. We have dedicated paediatric and neonatal air ambulance teams with specialist training and equipment. Our aircraft are equipped with neonatal incubators, paediatric ventilators, and warming systems to ensure safe, stable transport for infants and children of all ages.
These missions are coordinated with specialist clinicians and always supported by staff experienced in paediatric intensive care. Learn more about our neonatal air ambulance services.
Ways to Contact Us 24/7
You can arrange a transfer with SkyCare 24/7 by contacting us via:
- Phone: +44 203 150 3999
- Online enquiry form
What Happens After You Contact Us
Once we receive your request, our operations team collects the necessary patient information, assesses clinical requirements, and provides a detailed quotation.
When you’re happy to go ahead, we arrange everything. We assign the right medical team, book the ground ambulance, and manage all flight logistics—including clearances and permissions.
We also speak with both the sending and receiving hospitals, keeping you updated at every stage of the process. That way, you always know what’s happening and what comes next.
Our mission is simple: we handle the stress and coordination so you can focus on what truly matters—supporting the patient and your own wellbeing.
In urgent situations, we can often dispatch an air ambulance within just a few hours of confirmation. Our operations team works 24/7 to mobilise the medical crew, coordinate hospital handovers, and secure all necessary regulatory clearances.
Timings may vary depending on aircraft availability, weather conditions, destination, and seasonal demand—but we always prioritise speed and safety.
Each flight is staffed with a specialist medical team tailored to the patient’s condition. Typically, this includes a doctor and either a critical care nurse or a paramedic.
For neonatal and paediatric missions, a neonatal nurse, consultant, or paediatric intensivist may also be part of the team.
All clinical staff are assigned based on the patient’s medical reports and specific care requirements to ensure safe and appropriate in-flight treatment.
Critical Care Technology
SkyCare air ambulances carry advanced medical equipment designed to provide intensive care during every flight. We equip each aircraft with ventilators, monitors, defibrillators, infusion pumps, oxygen systems, and suction units. This allows our clinical team to treat a wide range of conditions safely while in the air.
Specialised Equipment for Complex Cases
We also include arterial blood gas (ABG) monitoring, a full formulary of emergency medications, and—when needed—neonatal incubators or Baby Pods. These tools allow us to maintain constant clinical oversight and deliver hospital-level care, even thousands of feet above ground.
Because we plan for every scenario, our equipment setup always matches the patient’s specific needs. That way, nothing is left to chance.
We’re Fully Regulated
SkyCare holds full regulation from both the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). These bodies inspect us regularly to verify clinical quality, safety, and operational compliance.
We Use Approved Operators
Our medical flights operate through certified air carriers that meet UK and international aviation medical standards. We choose only trusted partners, ensuring each mission meets the highest expectations.
Compliance You Can Trust
Because we follow strict regulatory frameworks, our patients and partners receive consistent, reliable care. Every detail is planned, checked, and delivered with professionalism.
We Plan and Deliver Every Step
From clinical assessments to clearances, our team handles everything…
Costs vary depending on factors such as distance, clinical requirements, and the type of aircraft needed.
We provide transparent, fully detailed quotations that include flight time, medical crew, equipment, ground ambulance transfers, and all coordination.
For an accurate and personalised quote, contact us.
Our expert team is ready 24/7 to guide you, answer your questions, and arrange everything you need—fast.
Need Help with a Medical Repatriation?
Still have questions? Our medical repatriation team is available 24/7 to help you. Contact us now for fast advice or a personalised quote.
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What our clients say.
If you are in the UK and looking for a medical repatriation company for your loved on, I could not recommend Skycare enough. I had an amazing experience dealing with Skycare on arranging medical repatriation for my Dad from London, United Kingdom all the way to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (12 hour long flight). From the first message I sent, Skycare responded fast and was very efficient on making sure all the forms and approvals were obtained quickly. Thank you so much to Craig for ensuring everything was smooth and Nurse Nav who was with my Dad during the journey back home.
Many thanks from myself and George. We were very impressed with the knowledge, care and professionalism shown from yourself and everyone involved and in particular we want to thank the medical team on the day, Lee and Tasha, for taking good care of James along the way. Please also forward our thanks to the pilots, Mark and Joe, for the smooth plane travel and landing and to Chris our ambulance driver for the considered driving all the way to Reading.
We are very happy now with the care he is receiving at Royal Berkshire Hospital and really pleased we were able to get him home safely with your excellent support and expertise from everyone involved.
Dear Craig & Ben,
I just wanted to say a huge thank you for sorting out our return home from Las Palmas today. My Dad was extremely nervous about the whole prospect of it all (as you probably picked up! 🙂 but it really was a seamless operation at every step of the way.
Mum is safely ensconced in Maidstone Hospital, and in good hands – not that she wasn’t before, but she is happy that she can communicate.
Pete McNair
From the very first point of contact to the final message confirming my parents had been safely repatriated to the UK, the service and care was second to none. The administration was straightforward, the quotation clear, and everything worked perfectly.
Repatriation from France to the UK is never simple, but during a pandemic, it’s even more complex. SkyCare handled all the COVID-19 testing, paperwork and ever-changing border rules — while also showing genuine care, comfort and professionalism.
They made two worried octogenarians feel at ease during a very frightening time — and reassured the whole family, right down to tracking the journey door to door. If you’re looking for medical repatriation to the UK, I can highly recommend BM Ambulance Group.
Shared by Chez Gourcilloux – March 2024
Cannot thank the team at BM Ambulance enough for getting my Dad home from Spain. Craig/Sarah/James/Emma & Danny were all absolutely amazing. It was a huge 24 hour journey and they made Mum & Dad feel comfortable and safe the entire way. I don’t think my Dad would have made it without your help. He’s still not in the best of health but at least we have him home. We definitely could not have done this without you. Thank you all involved. Amazing people offering a fantastic service. x
BM Ambulance Service helped my son get home after he fell ill in France. They were fantastic from the start to finish. I do hope we never have to go through this again but if you are unfortunate enough to need this, I would highly recommend.
I would have given more than 5 stars if I could have. A big thank you to Craig, Sarah and John for the safe delivery of our much loved mum, mother in law, Nan and great grandmother from Spain after suffering a stroke.
Accreditations
British Business & General Aviation Association
European Business Aviation Association
Pilatus Fleet
AOC (Air operator certificate) #2480
National Business Aviation Association
