Management specialist Air Alsie has added a Citation III to its fleet, which it will operate on behalf of Oslo's Norwegian Air Ambulance. The aircraft is already configured for medevac and will be used entirely for air ambulance services. EBAN asked Denmark-based Air Alsie why the Norwegian company has looked so far afield for an operator. "Because we're so damn good," joked Peter Hogh, vice president of sales. "It would of course be easier if we were based in Oslo, but ad-hoc charters will come from all over Scandinavia."

Norwegian Air Ambulance is operated for members of an association who are guaranteed the service of repatriation along with a number of other benefits. "The Citation will also be used for ad-hoc ambulance flights, which are generally contracted by insurance companies. Air Alsie also has a contract with the Faroe Islands and Greenland to transport patients into Denmark, if they need their hospital facilities," said Hogh. \r

The aircraft used to be operated in Oslo by Sundt Air, which still owns it and now leases it to Norwegian Air Ambulance. The aircraft was already fitted with two stretchers along with the medical equipment, but Hogh said this was fairly unusual because the Citation III is not generally an aircraft used for air ambulance flights. "Citation IIs, Vs and Learjets often fly air ambulance and we also have two Citation VIIs which can be configured into air ambulances, as can our Falcon 50 and 2000. Nevertheless, the Citation III fits the job well, because it has a good range and economic operating costs," said Hogh.

The company also operates two Falcon 200s, one Falcon 50, two Citation VIIs and a CitationJet, with a 2000EX due in 2004.