1. Stiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse
2. Stiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse
3. Luftambulanse Helikopter
4. Norsk Luftambulanse

Airbus Helicopters reported annual 2020 results this morning, including 289 gross orders (net: 268) and 300 deliveries that amount to a 48 percent share of the world civil and parapublic market. These numbers are down from 2019, when the company posted 369 orders and 332 deliveries to achieve a 54 percent market share.

The Europe-based company primarily lost market share to Russian Helicopters and Bell, while marginally gaining share from Leonardo. Acknowledging a difficult global market spawned by the pandemic, CEO Bruno Even said, “I am proud of our teams all over the world who adapted their ways of working to be there for our customers when they needed us the most, striving to help them to maintain their essential missions across the globe by delivering helicopters and the associated support and services they required.”

Main customer will be Norwegian Air Ambulance (Norsk Luftambulanse, NLA) First Five-Bladed H145 Delivered, 02-Oct-20: #LaunchCustomer Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation is the launch customer of the new five-bladed Airbus H145 / Bk117D3 helicopter in medical configuration. Luftambulanse operert av Lufttransport AS for Luftambulansetjenesten HF.

Even noted key accomplishments on the year, including the certification of the five-blade H145 medium twin and the H160 intermediate twin, as well as the continued development of the zero-emissions CityAirbus eVTOL demonstrator. Highlights in 2020 included the delivery of the first five-blade H145 to launch customer Norsk Luftambulanse and, later in the year, to DRF Luftrettung; the handover of the 463rd UH-72A from the Airbus factory in Columbus, Mississippi; and the first H225M and NH90 deliveries to the Kuwait Air Force and the Spanish Air Force, respectively.

The significantly recorded orders count included 84 H145s, including 17 UH-72Bs for the US Army; 33 H135 light twins and EASA certification of improvements for that aircraft, including alternate gross weight and a new single-pilot IFR cockpit layout; and orders for the new H160 from leasing company Milestone Aviation and Heli-Union. The German Bundeswehr ordered 31 NH90s to replace its aging Sea Lynx fleet.

Despite the economic contraction spawned by Covid-19, Even said Airbus continued to invest in new technology rotorcraft, citing 2020 milestones such as the first fully automatic flight of a CityAirbus and successful free flight autonomous deck landing trials of the VSR700 naval rotorcraft drone. Airbus also expanded its customer base for its HCare support programs, landing major contracts with air ambulance provider Air Methods and with NASA for its fleet of H135s.

HISTORY

The transportation of patients with air ambulance has been carried out since about 1930 in Norway. In 1924, the Red Cross launched the idea of transporting patients with airplanes. The first known transport was performed in 1932 with Viggo Widerøe as pilot. When the airline Widerøe was established in 1934 one of their purposes was to perform air ambulance transports. After WWII small civilian seaplanes performed these missions in the western and northern parts of Norway,later helicopters were also used. The Norwegian Air Force performed air ambulance missions with their Catalina-aircraft, some of these missions were far offshore. The concept of dedicated physician staffed air ambulance helicopters was introduced in 1978 by Doctor Jens Moe. A foundation, now known as the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, was established to secure the financial aspects of the operation.

Photo: The aircraft «Norseman» performed air ambulance missions after WWII.

The national air ambulance service was established in 1988 under the leadership of Tove Strand Gerhardsen who at that time was the Minister of Social Affairs. Airlines won contracts with The National Insurance Administration to provide dedicated emergency care with specially equipped ambulance airplanes and helicopters (Statens Luftambulanse). The county hospitals provided healthcare personnel.

Following the hospital reform in 2002 the responsibility for air ambulance services was transferred to the five (now four) Regional Health Authorities. In 2004 they established a joint subsidiary, National Air Ambulance Services of Norway.

IN GENERAL

The Regional Health Authorities pay all costs concerning air ambulance services and the administration is divided into two separate responsibilities. The National Air Ambulance Services of Norway is responsible for the flight operations nationwide and the Local Health Authorities are responsible for the medical side of the operation and providing doctors and nurses.

The Head Office is situated in Bodø. Our medical technical division is in Trondheim and our Flight Coordination Center is in Tromsø.

The aviation part of the National Air Ambulance Service is put out to tender. In 2018, two operators hold contracts to provide ambulance airplanes and helicopters (Norsk luftambulanse AS and Lufttransport AS). Nine ambulance airplanes are situated at seven locations throughout Norway (Kirkenes, Alta, Tromsø, Bodø, Brønnøysund, Ålesund and Gardermoen). Two bases, Alta and Gardemoen, have two aircraft. Ambulance helicopters are situated at twelve locations (Tromsø, Evenes, Brønnøysund, Trondheim, Ålesund, Førde, Bergen, Stavanger, Arendal, Ål, Lørenskog and Dombås) with thirteen helicopters in service. Lørenskog provides two helicopters. All air ambulance bases provide readiness 24 hours a day.

The medical crew at helicopter bases has at their disposal a Rapid Response Car. This car is used for nearby emergencies or when the weather prevents using the helicopter. The Rapid Response cars are funded by the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation.

Stiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse

The Ministry of Health and Care services has entered an agreement with The Ministry of Justice and Public Security which allows The National Air Ambulance Service to use Search and Rescue Helicopters for ambulance missions when they are available. This service is situated at six locations (Banak, Bodø, Ørland, Florø, Sola and Rygge) and all bases provide readiness 24 hours a day.

Beech KingAir B200. Photo: Karl-Øystein Karlstad.

STATISTICS

Stiftelsen Norsk Luftambulanse

The yearly budget of the National Air Ambulance Services of Norway is close to one billion Norwegian kroner.

In total there are 24 employees in the company. The two operators have about 200 employees working with air ambulance.

Every year about 20 000 patients are assisted by the services. Almost half are transported by ambulance airplanes while a third are transported by ambulance helicopters. In total the airplanes and helicopters fly about 18 000 flight hours yearly. The remaining patients are assisted by the Search and Rescue Helicopters or Rapid Response cars.

The public dials the emergency telephone number 113 when in need of emergency medical help. The Emergency Medicine Coordination Centre (EMCC) evaluates the need for ambulance or air ambulance. Once the EMCC has decided to use the air ambulance for patient transport they scramble the air ambulance base (for helicopters) or Flight Coordination Center (for airplanes) and relay relevant mission information.

THE CONTENT OF THE SERVICES

National Air Ambulance Services provide specialized emergency medicine and is an integrated part of the public emergency services.

Agusta Westland AW139 Eurocopter H135

All helicopters are staffed with a pilot, one rescue crew/HEMS Crew Member and anesthesiologist/emergency doctor. The helicopters are equipped with advanced medical equipment andhave room to transport two stretcher patients. We use three different types of helicopters in the air ambulance services, the Agusta Westland 139 (based at Tromsø and Ålesund), the Eurocopter H145 or the H135 at the remaining bases.

The main task for ambulance helicopters is to offer advanced emergency medical treatment outside the hospital and to transport the patients directly to the correct level of health care services. Sometimes it is difficult to land close to the patient, in these circumstances a static rope is used to lift the patient. The Air Ambulance Service cooperates closely with the Search and Rescue Service, and the ambulance helicopters are often used for simpler search- and rescue missions.

Luftambulanse Helikopter

The ambulance airplanes carry advanced medical equipment and are staffed with two pilots and one flight nurse. When needed, a doctor can accompany the patient on board. The ambulance airplane has the capability to transport two stretcher patients. The Beech King Air B200 is used by all seven bases in Norway. The ambulance airplanes are used to transport patients between hospitals and in the county of Finnmark the airplanes are also used to transport emergency patients directly to the appropriate level of healthcare.

SeaKing

Norsk Luftambulanse

The Search and Rescue helicopters are coordinated by The Joint Rescue Coordination Centres (Bodø and Sola). The medical capacity is similar to the smaller ambulance helicopters.