The Aeroplanes
Life Flight's 24/7 nationwide air ambulance service is provided by planes based in Wellington and Auckland*. Life Flight flies over 1000 patients a year on its nationwide air ambulance service, of all ages and needs, from premature babies to adults requiring intensive care treatment.
The aeroplanes are equipped and staffed to make them flying intensive care wards. If you need specialist medical services or equipment at a hospital outside your local area, Life Flight coordinates a bed-to-bed service, taking care of all logistics, providing the aircraft, equipment and suitable medical teams to travel with you.
The aircraft are Fairchild Metroliners, pressurised planes, which are equipped to fly at all times of the day and night and in all but the most severe weather. They can be configured to carry two patients, one crewperson, and up to four relatives or support people for the patient. Being able to travel with your loved one on the air ambulance is an invaluable benefit to families already struggling with a severe trauma.
Interesting Facts:
• In the year to August 2010, 1,034 people needed Life Flight's air ambulance service
• Each plane has two 1,000-horsepower turbine jet prop engines
• They burn around 380 litres of jet A1 fuel per hour
• With full fuel (2,453 litres), the planes can fly for up to seven hours continuously: this means flying the length of New Zealand or to the Chatham Islands and back without refuelling
• They have an average cruising speed of 470km/h
• They can maintain sea-level pressurisation flying at 15,000 feet
• They have a average flight height of 18,000 feet.
Find out about the types of missions flown.
