Germany-based general aviation and air ambulance specialist operator FAI rent-a-jet Aktiengesellschaft (Flight Ambulance Intl.) is continuing to strengthen its medical evacuation capabilities as it undertakes the first ever conversion of a civilian Global Express aircraft into a medevac configuration.

FAI has contracted Spectrum Aeromed Inc., the US company dedicated to designing and manufacturing customised medical and air ambulance equipment for fixed and rotor wing aircraft, to develop and build a bespoke Intensive Care Unit (ICU). When completed it will be installed on the Global Express by FAI’s MRO subsidiary FAI Technik GmbH in Nuremberg.

The newly equipped aircraft, which is currently undergoing a twelve month C-Check, installation of a new XRS-cabin, and other additional upgrades will be based at the FAI facility at Albrecht Dürer International. Airport, Nuremberg and is expected to enter service in its new configuration before the end of 2015.

The FAI Global interior undergoing conversion

“With this conversion we are trying to fill a small, but important niche in the air ambulance market for ultra-long range transport of VIP-patients from Asia and the Middle East to and from the USA,” said Siegfried Axtmann, FAI’s Chairman, “We initially collaborated with Spectrum three years ago when we developed the first multi-patient interior for a CRJ200. That project was extremely successful so we have once again chosen Spectrum as we know they can match our expectations in terms of scope of work, budget and delivery times.” The ICU´s basic system can also be used on the FAI Challengers and Learjet aircraft types.

Ninth Learjet 60 joins the FAI fleet

In addition to the upgraded Global Express FAI has also added a ninth Learjet 60 to the fleet as it continues its strategy of replacing its older aircraft types with newer models. The Learjet 60 will be dedicated to special mission and medevac purposes. FAI continues to be one of the world´s leading air ambulance jet operators, providing special mission services to the world’s largest Non-Governmental Organisation, with which it has been working for more than 11 years. Last year it averaged fourteen international medical evacuations a week.

The FAI fleet now consists of three Global Express types, four Challenger 604s, nine Learjet 60s, four Learjet 55, and one Learjet 35A which is dedicated to supporting the FAI Technik’s AOG team on demand. It is anticipated that a fifth Challenger 604 will join the fleet before the end of September 2015. FAI maintains its position as the largest Learjet operator outside of the Americas.