An air ambulance is a specially equipped airplane or helicopter used to transport patients who require urgent or specialized medical care. Air Ambulances are staffed by trained medical personnel who provide medical care during flight.

A Medical Escort is a healthcare professional who accompanies a patient during non-emergency transportation, such as a commercial or other flight, to provide medical assistance and support. They are responsible for ensuring the patient’s safety and well-being during travel, helping with everything from mobility and medication to emergency care if needed. A Medical Escort is a more cost-effective alternative to an air ambulance for patients who are stable but require medical supervision during transportation.

Medical repatriation is transporting a patient who becomes injured or ill while traveling home for medical treatment. While medical repatriation typically involves patients traveling out of the U.S., it can also involve patients traveling in the U.S., particularly for patients traveling in remote areas or patients requiring additional care in their home area after receiving initial treatment locally.

The patient’s condition and medical needs during transportation will determine whether travel on a commercial flight is possible or an Air Ambulance is necessary. Airlines require patients to be medically cleared before allowing them to board a commercial flight. Diverting a flight due to an in-flight medical emergency is very expensive and disruptive to airline operations. Airlines are not equipped to transport patients who require medical care during flight. Consequently, patients who are too unstable or not ambulatory will not be able to travel on a commercial passenger flight, even with a Medical Escort. We can help patients determine the most appropriate mode of transportation.

We utilize a fleet of specialized medically configured aircraft capable of both short range and long range air ambulance missions. We pair the appropriate aircraft with individual patient requirements. We utilize jets, turboprops and helicopters as appropriate.

We provide transportation between any two points in the U.S.

We provide transportation between anywhere in the world and the U.S.

The exact time depends on a number of factors including patient medical needs, origin and destination locations, aircraft availability, required medical personnel, weather and other factors.

As soon as you contact us we will start the process. We will gather necessary information from you with which we will generate a quote and time-frame. As soon as you commit to the trip, we will make all necessary arrangements.

Yes. We can assist foreign patients as well as family members with obtaining a U.S. visa for medical treatment.

Yes. Pets and service animals are always welcome to travel with patients. The patient is ultimately responsible for ensuring pets and service animals comply with customs and other governmental regulations (such as having health certificates and proof of vaccinations). We can assist with compliance with governmental regulations and the handling of pets or service animals if a family member is not available to do so.

No. We fly out of Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) at the airports we utilize, provided the airport has an FBO. An FBO is a commercial enterprise at an airport that provides services to private aircraft, such as fueling, parking, lounges for passengers, catering and other services. They are a private alternative to commercial airline terminals for private flyers. Some small or remote airports do not have FBOs (typically airports without control towers), in which case we utilize the transient aircraft parking ramp for loading and unloading patients and accompanying family members.

We transport patients ranging from those who require no or only basic medical care (such as patients traveling to a scheduled medical appointment), to those requiring critical care and advanced life support.

Yes. All flights are staffed with appropriate medical personnel. First Air utilizes flight paramedics, critical care nurses, physicians and other medical professionals as appropriate. Exact medical personnel on each flight depends on individual patient needs.

Yes. All of our medical personnel are licensed in their individual specialty by one or more states in the U.S. Besides being licensed, our medical personnel have current certifications appropriate to their position such as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS).

All flights are conducted according to U.S. Federal Air Regulation (FAR) Part 135, which governs charter and on-demand flight operations, including Air Ambulance flights. Companies operating under FAR Part 135 must meet rigorous FAA safety standards for aircraft maintenance, pilot training, and operational procedures to ensure safe passenger transportation.

The exact cost of a flight varies greatly depending on multiple factors including patient condition, required medical staff and equipment, flight distance, aircraft utilized and other requested services.

Some insurance policies cover Air Ambulance flights including commercial , automobile and worker’s compensation insurance as well as policies specifically for emergency medical air transportation. We can help patients identify any insurance coverage they may have as well as assisting with collecting benefits.

We accept all major credit cards, wire transfer and other forms of electronic payment, bank checks, money orders, business and personal checks and cash.

Depending on aircraft utilized, requires medical personnel and equipment and patient condition one or more family members may accompany the patient.

Portal to portal transportation is transportation from wherever the patient currently is located whether in their home or a in a bed in a treatment facility to the destination medical facility. This includes air and ground transportation as well as all transfers.

Yes, most foreign patients require a visa, typically a B-2 visitor visa, for medical treatment in the U.S. Citizens of countries included in the Visa Waiver Program may be able to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment without a visa for short stays as long as they meet all other entry requirements. Visa applicants must demonstrate an ability pay for the medical treatment and a genuine intent to return to their home country.

Yes. We can assist foreign patients as well as family members obtain a U.S. visa for medical treatment.

Yes. We can assist both U.S. patients requiring medical repatriation and foreign patients who want treatment in the U.S. with finding an appropriate treatment facility.

Yes. We can assist patients with obtaining their medical records and transferring them to the appropriate person as the treating facility the patient is traveling to. We can also translate medical records from any foreign language to English.

Yes. We have skilled neonatal and pediatric care providers including neonatal and pediatric critical care nurses, neonatologists and pediatricians. Our aircraft can be equipped with neonatal and pediatric advanced medical equipment as warranted.

Yes. We specialize in transporting patients from remote locations anywhere in the world. Picking up patients from remote locations may require utilizing multiple aircraft as the jets we use for long range international transportation can’t safely take off or land at some remotely located airports, particularly airports without paved runways.

Multiple factors go into determining which aircraft we will use  for each patient transport including distance, aircraft availability, runway lengths and conditions, weather, required medical personnel and equipment, insurance coverage, cost and patient preferences.

Yes. Pets and service animals are always welcome to travel with patients. Patient is ultimately responsible for ensuring transporting pets and service animals comply with customs and other governmental regulations (such as having health certificates and proof of vaccinations). We can assist with compliance with governmental regulations and the handling of pets or service animals if a family member is not available to do so.

We answer the phone 24 hours a day 365 days a year at (781) 664-9000.

Call us on the phone at (781) 664-9000 to arrange a flight. You can also fill out the online contact form and we will call you.

Yes. We use some of the same airports used by commercial airlines however we also use many smaller airports that do not have commercial air service.

No. Passengers on private flights are not subject to the same security screening requirements as passengers on commercial flights.

Yes. We have a network of former law enforcement and military special operations personnel who can provide discreet security for the patients we transport.

Yes. We are a 501c3 organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as well as being registered as a non-profit corporation in the states of Florida and Virginia.

Yes. As a 501c3 charitable organization donations to First Air are generally deductible. For specific information regarding the deductibility of donations, you should contact a licensed Certified Public Accountant or tax attorney.