Medical Flight Coordination
Air Ambulance
Coordinate domestic and international patient transfer missions end to end with authorized operators and medical providers.
Our urgent coordination line takes air ambulance and medical evacuation (medevac) requests 24/7. In a life-threatening emergency, first call the official emergency number where you are (112 in Türkiye). Medical decisions rest with licensed healthcare professionals.
Our Role
Bringing medical and operational stakeholders into one mission plan
NOVAERON acts as an independent coordination provider for air ambulance and medical flight requests, supporting mission planning between authorized air carriers, medical providers, healthcare institutions and ground handling services. Every mission is planned by assessing the patient's clinical condition, route, timing, aircraft configuration and handover chain together.
NOVAERON is not an air carrier, healthcare institution or ambulance service provider. The flight is performed by the authorized operator and the medical care is delivered by the assigned medical provider. NOVAERON does not make medical diagnosis, treatment or fitness-to-fly decisions.
Air ambulance, ambulance jet, medevac: are they the same service?
Yes. All of them describe moving a patient from one city or country to another on an aircraft with intensive care equipment, accompanied by a doctor and medical team; this is also called medical evacuation (medevac). Helicopter ambulances cover short distances and hospital helipad landings. For longer distances between cities and countries, an ambulance aircraft is used.
Mission Process
How is an air ambulance transfer planned?
A swift assessment requires the medical and operational information to reach the right stakeholders in full.
Initial mission details
Patient location, destination, timing and the current medical summary are shared through secure channels.
Medical fitness assessment
The authorized medical provider assesses fitness to fly, crew and equipment requirements based on the available information.
Mission plan and quotation
Aircraft, medical team, permits and, where required, ground ambulance connections are coordinated in a single mission plan.
Transfer coordination
Following confirmation, the operation between the operator, medical provider, ground handling and handover points is followed through.
Initial Assessment
Information needed with your request
Share medical data only to the extent required for assessing the request, and only through secure communication channels. Review the privacy notice before submitting.
- The patient’s city, institution and pick-up point
- Destination city, hospital and receiving unit details
- A current medical summary prepared by a physician
- Mobility, oxygen, ventilation and monitoring requirements
- Infectious disease or special isolation requirements
- Number of accompanying persons, identity and travel document details
- Requested timing and the urgency level of the mission
Coordination Scope
Medical transport shaped by the mission
Not every service suits every patient. The final mission scope is determined after the authorized medical provider's assessment and operator availability.
- Intensive-care-equipped air ambulance missions
- Domestic and international patient transfers
- Repatriation and medical evacuation coordination
- Neonatal and pediatric transfer requirements
- Medical escort assessment on scheduled flights
- Ground ambulance and bed-to-bed transfer connections
- Coordination of organ and special medical transport requirements
Quotation
What determines air ambulance pricing?
A medical flight quotation is not prepared on distance alone. The patient's requirements, medical team and equipment, aircraft configuration and ground transfers define the total scope of the mission.
No price, departure time or availability commitment is given before medical fitness and mission details are assessed.
- Departure and arrival points and total flight distance
- Required aircraft type and medical cabin configuration
- Physician, paramedic or specialist team requirements
- Oxygen, ventilator, monitor or special equipment needs
- Scope of ground ambulance and bed-to-bed transfer
- Flight permits, airport fees and operational timing
- Positioning the aircraft to the mission and urgency
Aircraft
Which aircraft are used as air ambulances?
The aircraft is chosen according to the distance, the patient's condition, the size of the medical team and the airport to be used. The operator and the medical provider make the choice together.
| Class | Example aircraft | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | Beechcraft King Air 350, Pilatus PC-12 | Short domestic and regional distances; airports with short runways |
| Light and midsize jet | Learjet 45, Cessna Citation series, Hawker Beechjet 400A | Medium distances from Türkiye to Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus |
| Large-cabin jet | Bombardier Challenger 604 / 605 | Long distances; missions that need a larger medical team, a companion or extra equipment |
Medically equipped aircraft carry a secured stretcher system, oxygen, monitors, a ventilator and infusion pumps. A transport incubator can be used for newborns. The equipment for each mission is set by the medical provider's assessment.
Transfer Directions
In which directions are patients transferred by air?
From abroad to Türkiye for treatment
Patient transfers from Iraq, Libya, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, the Balkans and Africa to hospitals in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. The receiving hospital, the medical report and visa or entry documents are confirmed before the flight.
From Türkiye to abroad
Repatriation of foreign patients treated in Türkiye, or who fell ill on holiday, to their home countries (the United Kingdom, Europe, the Gulf states).
Within Türkiye
Patient transfers from any city to advanced treatment centres in Istanbul, Ankara or Izmir. Transfers from holiday regions such as Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman to major cities or abroad are also covered.
The first step is the same in every direction: patient and destination details, a current medical summary and the receiving facility's details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to know before a medical flight
What information is needed first for an air ambulance mission?
The patient and destination locations, a current medical summary, the patient’s mobility and support requirements, the requested timing and, if available, the receiving hospital details are needed to start the initial assessment.
Who decides whether the patient is fit to fly?
Fitness for transport and the required medical configuration are assessed by the authorized medical provider assigned to the mission, based on information obtained from the treating physicians. NOVAERON does not make medical diagnosis or treatment decisions.
Can a bed-to-bed transfer be coordinated?
Depending on the scope of the mission, ground ambulances at the departure and arrival points, airport transitions and the handover process can be coordinated with separate service providers.
What documents are required for an international patient transfer?
The required documents can vary by route and the patient’s condition. In addition to passport and visa requirements, a medical report, hospital admission, operator permits or country-specific documents may be requested.
How is air ambulance pricing determined?
The price is prepared according to the route, aircraft and medical cabin type, team and equipment, ground ambulance connections, permits, positioning and the timing of the mission. A firm price cannot be given before the medical and operational details are reviewed.
Does NOVAERON operate the air ambulance or the medical team?
No. NOVAERON is an independent coordination provider. The flight is performed by an authorized air carrier and the medical care is delivered by a medical provider with the relevant competence.
Last updated:
Mission Request