Airmedic, a provider of specialised air medical transport, has unveiled a new medical cabin purpose-built for its Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft. Already in service aboard the first aircraft, this permanent clinical environment supports patient transport while setting a new benchmark for critical care in flight.

Born from firsthand operational experience, this permanent medical configuration improves clinical access, optimises the work of medical crews and ensures immediate availability of essential equipment, enabling flight crews to manage complex transports with greater precision, efficiency and comfort.

“This investment reflects our commitment to excellence in in-flight care,” says Louis-Philippe Loiselle Fortier, vice president, strategic initiatives and business development at the Quebecan air medical transport company. “By analysing how missions actually unfold, we designed a cabin that removes obstacles for our crews, strengthens clinical continuity and provides a safer, more comfortable and better-controlled environment for patients and their loved ones during both short- and long-haul repatriation flights.”

Airmedic invested in a completely redesigned permanent medical interior. Developed in close collaboration with the engineering teams at Fargo Jet Center in North Dakota and certified by both the FAA and Transport Canada through a supplemental type certificate, the cabin was shaped by direct feedback from the crews, clients and patients it serves.

Key innovations for critical care transport include: the enhanced cabin features an advanced LifePort stretcher system, a stainless steel-clad composite sidewall panel for hygiene and durability, and a custom medical cabinet that keeps essential equipment protected and immediately accessible; specialised overhead rails allow medical devices to be secured above the care area, including the defibrillator monitor, transport ventilator and intravenous therapy units, keeping critical equipment within ergonomic reach of the patient; an expanded loading clearance also facilitates patient handling, including bariatric cases and incubator transports, while medical-grade surfaces allow for effective decontamination between missions and a custom privacy curtain preserves patient dignity during flight; and a new Skytrac ISAT-200A satellite communication and flight-tracking system further enhances in-flight coordination by allowing crews to consult with physicians hands-free, without interrupting care.

Together, these improvements create a structured clinical workspace that supports decisive intervention during critical care transports, while enhancing overall patient comfort, dignity and safety.

The Learjet 45XR configuration represents the first step in a broader fleet modernisation strategy. A second 45XR, purchased late last year, is already slated to receive an identical permanent medical configuration in the coming months, bringing the total investment in both cabin conversions to approximately two million Canadian dollars. These conversions are part of an overall $18 million Canadian commitment to Airmedic's Bombardier Learjet 45XR fleet, which supports the expansion of its international medical repatriation programme.

“By permanently dedicating these aircraft to medical operations, Airmedic is reaffirming a clear priority: investing in reliable clinical environments designed for the realities of modern aeromedical transport, while continuing to raise the standard of care in the skies,” adds Louis-Philippe Loiselle Fortier.

Beyond international repatriation missions, these aircraft remain available at all times to support Quebec's communities and healthcare network for urgent inter-hospital transfers. This local commitment remains at the heart of Airmedic's mission, having expanded its service offering over the past three years to reach an international scope, both through air ambulance operations with its fleet of six Pilatus PC-12 NG and two Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft and through medical escort services on commercial flights. Strategically based in Montreal, a key transatlantic hub between Europe and the Americas, and holding EURAMI international accreditation, Airmedic combines a Quebec foundation with a global reach.