Toronto-headquartered international medical repatriation specialist Fox Flight Air Ambulance has welcomed a third Learjet 40XR to its fleet of specially configured air ambulances. The two other Learjet 40XRs were added to the fleet in April 2019, and company president David Fox says the addition of a third completes the company's planned overhaul of its equipment.

“Just over a year ago we made a decision to update our aircraft and move on from our old Learjet 35s and 36,” Fox explains. “After researching our options, we determined that the best aircraft for us was the Learjet 40XR. The longer fuselage has room for a washroom and extra baggage, which means more comfort and convenience for the patient, their companions and our crew. Plus the taller and wider cabin makes it easier for the medical crew to load and unload the patient and provide in-flight care.”

In addition to improved cabin amenities, flight crews benefit from a roomier cockpit, an up-to-date cockpit display and the latest aviation technology. “Our pilots are really enjoying flying the Learjet 40XR for a lot of reasons; it's a big step up from our old fleet and takes our standard of service to the next level,” adds director of operations and chief pilot Katrina Rankine.

In addition to improving the repatriation experience for patients, companions and crews, Fox says the impetus to move to the Learjet 40XR was also driven by the ongoing maintenance demands of older aircraft. Fox says: “Newer planes are just more reliable, and they are easier to fix if you do have a problem because there are abundant replacement parts available; that means it's easier for us to keep our aircraft in the air and available for our clients.”

The latest Fox Flight air ambulance will operate under the tail designation C-FEMT, which stands for Emergency Medical Transfer. It joins C-FEMF (Emergency Medical Flight) and C-FEMC (Emergency Medical Care) to round out the fleet.