US Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West air medical transport service Life Flight Network has installed liquid oxygen (LOX) in a brand new Pilatus PC-12 in collaboration with customised air medical solutions provider Spectrum Aeromed.

The completion of this project marks the first of its kind for this oxygen configuration to receive FAA STC approval. Thanks to Spectrum Aeromed's superior engineering and navigation of this aircraft modification approval process, Life Flight Network's first LOX-capable Pilatus PC-12 was delivered on 27 September.

“This collaboration with Spectrum Aeromed exemplifies our unwavering dedication to continuously improving the level of care we provide to our patients,” says chief clinical officer Casey Seckel. “The addition of liquid oxygen capabilities in our Pilatus PC-12 marks a significant milestone in our mission to serve communities across the region, allowing for extended duration of use and greater portability and accessibility. The addition of this resource more than triples the carrying capacity for oxygen, a vital resource for our critically ill and injured patients.”

Life Flight Network and Spectrum Aeromed have a long-standing partnership, centred around Spectrum Aeromed's ability to deliver high-quality, innovative air ambulance equipment and customised installations. This liquid oxygen system benefits Life Flight Network's critical air medical patients who require oxygen during extended fixed-wing transports. Additionally, Spectrum Aeromed's space saving design maximises efficiency without compromising oxygen capacity, unlike previous methods for providing additional oxygen in flight.

“The integration of our dedicated interior, including the revolutionary liquid oxygen technology, into the Pilatus PC-12 not only enhances operational efficiency but also significantly improves patient care capabilities,” adds Matthew Christenson, VP account executive at Spectrum Aeromed. “This solution, particularly the LOX system, offers unparalleled space and weight savings. A single five litre LOX orb, for instance, drastically reduces weight while providing a continuous oxygen supply, enabling longer missions.”

Life Flight Network intends to outfit its entire fleet of Pilatus PC-12s with liquid oxygen in the coming years; yet another example of the not-for-profit's continued reinvestment in its fleet, staff and community. To retrofit the entire fleet will be costly and the organisation warmly welcomes community support through the Life Flight Network Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 2009 to provide critical financial support to their mission services.