Ambulances
 

Helicopters

LifeFlight currently utilizes three EC-145 and two EC-135 helicopters.  Helicopters (also called rotor-wing aircraft) have played a vital role in caring for the acutely ill patient. Helicopters helped solidify the concept of the "golden hour" of trauma-- the first hour after a person suffers a traumatic injury. Studies prove that if a patient receives definitive care within this first hour, his or her outcomes can be significantly improved. EMS Helicopters vary considerably in several factors:

• weight carrying capacity
• ability to fly in inclement weather
• range
• speed
• crew configuration
   

Vanderbilt LifeFlight utilizes a nurse-nurse crews and nurse-paramedic crews.  LifeFlight helicopters are twin engine aircraft and are IFR equipped.  Two advantages of rotor wing transport are:

• Speed: helicopters can cover short distances rapidly and are not affected by road conditions. They can often land directly at the scene of the incident or directly at a hospital. This prevents a lengthy ground transport.
• Availability: helicopters are much more available than airplanes when it comes to aeromedical transport.
   

Airplanes

Different types of airplanes (also called fixed-wing aircraft) used to transport patients vary greatly. Commercial jets are used for the stable, ambulatory patient that requires no medical care. Small, turbo-prop planes or small jets can be fully configured to serve as an intensive care unit for critically ill or trauma patients.

The benefits of fixed wing transport are that airplanes:

• fly faster and have a farther range than helicopters and ambulances. This enables the patient to be transported to one facility where their needs can be met rather than being limited to a hospital within range of helicopter or ambulance.
• can fly in a greater range of weather conditions. For instance, an airplane flying at 12,000 feet or higher can fly above thunderstorms, whereas a helicopter flying at 2,000 feet cannot.
• can operate at a fraction of the cost of helicopters because they are more fuel efficient and are less complicated mechanically.
   

Airplanes are limited by their need to take off and land at an airport. In addition, a fixed wing aircraft is limited on how close it can get to the patient's physical location. From the airplane, the medical crew and patient must be transported to the hospital in an ambulance. The hospital may be a few minutes away or hours away.