Go Back  Airline Pilot Central Forums > Airline Pilot Forums > Part 135
Does anyone fly a new Medevac Jet? >

Does anyone fly a new Medevac Jet?

Search
Notices
Part 135 Part 135 commercial operators

Does anyone fly a new Medevac Jet?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-04-2007, 10:00 AM
  #1  
On Reserve
Thread Starter
 
500and2's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: In the Man Cave
Posts: 16
Default Does anyone fly a new Medevac Jet?

Just curious..... with old Lr's dominating the medevac field, if anyone worked for a company that flew new'ish equipment?

The initial costs are obviously more for new equipment, but so are ongoing mx problems for the older fleets?

Old lears are 1-2 mil........ semi-old Citation V's are 3-5 mil...... new Encore's are 12mil,etc.......

You can't beat the speed/operating costs of an old Lr35..... but when these a/c start to break do you start the cycle over again with another old Lr, or do you upgrade to something newer?

I guess, it's all about the $$$. If the medevac contract pays well, the company may have some room to upgrade the fleet.

Cheers,

500and2
500and2 is offline  
Old 03-30-2008, 11:31 PM
  #2  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: Left, right & center
Posts: 774
Default

We were thinking we'd be trading our 30-year old, 17,000-hour Lear 35s later this year for 12-year-old, 8,000-hour Lear 31s. The company that contracts us, though, is shutting down bases and reducing staffing, so that's not going to happen.

Ideally, I'd like to see Lear 45s with APUs. Not gonna happen, either. Not for another 10 years, probably, until the first 45s get to be 20 years old.
Reactivity is online now  
Old 04-03-2008, 07:36 AM
  #3  
Gets Weekends Off
 
stinsonjr's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 919
Default

I have sondered if any of the new VLJ's could incorporate a wider door and perhaps be used for Medevac. An Eclipse, with a price of under $2 million could incorporate a stretcher, nurse/paramedic and two crew members. Increased efficiency would enable the medevacs to remain at the old Lear pricepoint for acquisition, probably lower insurance costs, and have improved operating costs (I think). My question is whether the speed/range would be a good value vs. a Used King Air on intermediate range medevac flights? Sorry if this is a stupid comment/question - but have been wondering for some time of this could be another use for a VLJ?
stinsonjr is offline  
Old 04-03-2008, 11:20 AM
  #4  
Flying Farmer
 
Ewfflyer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Turbo-props' and John Deere's
Posts: 3,160
Default

Originally Posted by stinsonjr View Post
I have sondered if any of the new VLJ's could incorporate a wider door and perhaps be used for Medevac. An Eclipse, with a price of under $2 million could incorporate a stretcher, nurse/paramedic and two crew members. Increased efficiency would enable the medevacs to remain at the old Lear pricepoint for acquisition, probably lower insurance costs, and have improved operating costs (I think). My question is whether the speed/range would be a good value vs. a Used King Air on intermediate range medevac flights? Sorry if this is a stupid comment/question - but have been wondering for some time of this could be another use for a VLJ?
I would think at least on the Eclipse, it couldn't be done with a stretcher because of it's length. The Mustang, Phenom, and soon the PiperJet(Sources say 2011 though, ouch!) might as they should have a longer interior space. Although what would hurt the PJ over the others is insurance might not like single-engine, regardless how reliable it is.
Ewfflyer is offline  
Old 04-04-2008, 06:13 AM
  #5  
Gets Weekends Off
 
stinsonjr's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 919
Default

Originally Posted by Ewfflyer View Post
I would think at least on the Eclipse, it couldn't be done with a stretcher because of it's length. The Mustang, Phenom, and soon the PiperJet(Sources say 2011 though, ouch!) might as they should have a longer interior space. Although what would hurt the PJ over the others is insurance might not like single-engine, regardless how reliable it is.
I will check this out - the stretcher thing on the Eclipse.

Other than that, does my hypothesis make sense - ie the economics and operating costs being a superior value to the Medevac market?

Thanks for the reply
stinsonjr is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 04:48 AM
  #6  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Posts: 144
Default Eclipse

The Eclipse would be very difficult for Medavac, two pilots, nurse, stretcher and medical equipment ? The payload on the plane isn't very good not to mention a lot of bugs are not worked out ie in-op FMS, no known ice, in-op radar. The plane is way too small
Bumper is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 04:46 PM
  #7  
Gets Weekends Off
 
firedup's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 320 right side
Posts: 176
Default

We fly citation ultra's and King Air B200's The king air has more room for everyone. (pilots and Nurses) but the Citation is a lot easier to load/unload. We use the lifeport system, whch is the ideal way to handle patients. We have the wide clam-shell door which gives us a lot more room...
firedup is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 05:33 PM
  #8  
New Hire
 
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 7
Default

I would think there would be a lot of operators using the PC-12 with respect to the big cargo door and operating costs, but maybe the initial price would scare them away.
JDP1 is offline  
Old 04-06-2008, 06:12 PM
  #9  
Gets Weekends Off
 
firedup's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 320 right side
Posts: 176
Default

most insurance companies and people want 2 engines....
firedup is offline  
Old 04-16-2008, 09:19 PM
  #10  
Gets Weekends Off
 
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Citation Driver
Posts: 103
Default

We fly a newer citation for Air Ambulance.... mid 70's CE500, S/N 347.... That's new... right? Its not over 10,000 hrs, yet, so c'mon. That's new. Anything younger than my personal airframe is new. Its cheap too. Don't fix anything, and it doesn't cost much.
Kdub is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
captain_drew
Flight Schools and Training
38
12-05-2012 08:29 AM
vagabond
Hangar Talk
1
10-07-2007 05:17 AM
GliderCFI
Regional
20
01-23-2006 07:20 AM
LAfrequentflyer
Hangar Talk
2
10-26-2005 04:40 PM
Lennon
JetBlue
0
07-01-2005 07:27 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



Your Privacy Choices