subject: Flight News On Airlines,X3 Hybrid Helicopter & Air Ambulance Commissioning By International SOS In Namibia & Nigeria [print this page] Flight News On Airlines,X3 Hybrid Helicopter & Air Ambulance Commissioning By International SOS In Namibia & Nigeria
We have reports on SOS commissioning air ambulance in Namibia, X3 Hybrid helicopter marks a new milestone and airlines in bid to form consortium among other air news reports.
International SOS Commissions New Air Ambulances in Namibia and Nigeria
International SOS has launched two new state-of-the-art air ambulance services in Namibia and Nigeria to support increasing client numbers in Africa.
Olivier Ryder, International SOS regional general manager for the Middle East and North Africa, said that, due to a significant increase in business and economic liberalization over the last decade and the strategic geographic location, West and South West Africa were increasingly visited by business travelers and populated by expatriates.
"Complimenting the existing International SOS air ambulance operations in South Africa and Europe, these new services demonstrate our commitment to these rapidly growing regions.
"In addition, these new air ambulances will further reduce the response time to reach patients in the event of a medical emergency in locations in North, West and South West Africa.
"On arrival, the fully-equipped International SOS medical team will provide an immediate upgrade of medical care and ensure that patients are safely evacuated to an appropriate medical centre," he added.
"Mark Troy, regional general manager West Africa of International SOS, said the addition of a fully-equipped air ambulance to the International SOS fleet would ensure that members in North and West Africa benefitted from faster evacuation times.
The Learjet 45, based in Lagos, in Nigeria, is equipped with advanced onboard medical equipment, enabling the provision of in-flight intensive care. Accommodating up to two patients, they are cared for by doctors and paramedics specializing in emergency response and aero-medicine. The medical teams and flight crew are on call 24-hours a day to provide emergency evacuation across North and West Africa.
The services operate in synergy with International SOSs on the ground resources in the region, including the clinics in Lagos, Warri, Port Harcourt, N'Djamena and Takoradi.
Dr. Fraser Lamond, International SOS regional medical director in Southern Africa, said the service in Namibia was provided by a dedicated, fully equipped Beech craft King Air 90, based in Windhoek.
"Staffed by qualified international and advanced life support paramedics for all missions, the air ambulance is ideally located to move patients from Angola, Botswana and other countries within the Southern African region to South Africa for medical treatment.
"We operate 24-hour medical alarm centres in Johannesburg and Windhoek, linked into the rest of our global network."
The Johannesburg alarm centre is responsible for advice and emergency services to 21 southern African countries. From Johannesburg, International SOS operates a fleet of dedicated, doctor-based air ambulance services in Africa. These air ambulances are able to reach 21 African countries without refueling thereby ensuring that the vast distances across the African continent are managed by a team of experts who understand Africa's logistical challenges. This air ambulance service is the only Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services accredited service outside of the North Americas.
In the last year, the service performed over 460 medical evacuations and air ambulance missions extending as far as Europe, Middle East, Ascension Island, Maldives, Diego Garcia, West, East and Central Africa.
X3 High-Speed Hybrid Helicopter Marks A New Milestone
Euro copter has begun test flights of the X3 demonstrator for its innovative high-speed, long-range hybrid helicopter (H3) concept, which combines vertical takeoff and landing capabilities with fast cruise speeds of more than 220 knots.
The X3 demonstrator is equipped with two turbo shaft engines that power a five-blade main rotor system and two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings. This creates an advanced transportation system offering the speed of a turboprop-powered aircraft and the full hover flight capabilities of a helicopter.
A wide range of utilizations are envisaged for the H3 configuration, including long-distance search and rescue (SAR) missions, passenger transport and inter-city shuttle services.
It also may be well-suited for military missions in Special Forces operations, troop transport, combat SAR and medical evacuation-benefitting from the hybrid aircrafts combination of higher cruise speeds with excellent vertical takeoff/landing performance.
The X3 demonstrator's fist flight occurred recently in Southern France at the Istres Centre of DGA flight testing, which is operated by the French DGA government agency and ensures a secure and controlled environment. Initial testing will continue throughout December with reduced power, progressively opening the flight envelope to speeds of approximately 180 knots.
After a three-month upgrade, X3 flights will resume in March 2011 with the goal of reaching sustained cruise speeds in excess of 220 knots.
Airlines in Bid to Form Consortium
Three of Africa's major airlines, South Africa Airways, Egypt Air AND Ethiopian Airlines, are contemplating the establishment of a multi-national regional carrier to serve the central and West African countries.
SAAs CEO, Siza Mzimela,has revealed that senior management teams of SAA,Egypt Air and Ethiopian are holding talks on the possibility of establishing such a multi-national African carrier,She said that the planned airline would be an intra-Africa one that would feed passengers to the three major carriers.
Hussein Massoud, CEO of EgyptAir, confirmed the plan as did Ethiopian, designate CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam, who said the central and West African regions were under-served." The concept is to have a regional hub and the three airlines could jointly establish a new airline or invest in Togos ASKY Airline in which Ethiopian has a 25 stake," he said.
