German operator FAI rent-a-jet has seen an 80 per cent increase in revenue for its air ambulance service up to April 2004, compared with the same period last year.

“Our recent statistics over the last 12 months show that the transport distance of more than 50 per cent of all evacuations performed is above 3,000 km,” said founder and chairman Siegfried Axtmann. “This means that the total trip (round-trip) of such a case is more than 7,000km. This all reflects that FAI is specialised in medium- and long-range patient transport.”

FAI expects to perform at least 2,500 hours of air ambulance flights this year, using its Learjet 35A and Learjet 55. The company is currently considering adding a second Lear 55 to its fleet as it is in the process of selling its Citation V to its lessee, Silesia Air, in the Czech Republic.

“The significant increase in revenue is a result of our international acquisition and confirms that there is enough business in the market, but you have to convince the assistance industry that you are the ‘right’ partner for their patient transport,” said Axtmann.

“Our increase of business does not automatically mean that we are taking business from competitive operators in Germany – more business comes from foreign assistance companies, which probably means that they hire us as an additional or new operator.”

Despite concerns from other German operators about the unsettled economic and political situation affecting business aviation, Axtmann believes that there is scope for the market to grow, given the necessary conditions and a greater demand from German travellers.

“I have the feeling that the German air ambulance market itself is not growing fast, but there is also no decrease of business,” he said. “My opinion is that this market volume will remain constant. The main reason that this German business is not growing very fast is the fact that the German population does not travel as much, or as far away, as they did in the past.”

In addition to its air ambulance service, FAI flies 1,000 hours of executive charter and last minute cargo per year, mostly with its Citation I.

“The reason why we have chosen to operate with Learjets and step out of the Citation market is that the Learjets’ performance, regarding non-stop range and speed, makes this type of aircraft the perfect tool for air ambulance in regard to time and operational costs,” said Axtmann. “The Citations of this cabin class are not the right aircraft type for long-range evacuations because of their limited range and speed.”