Flying intensive care unit

In order to modify a Super King Air for its demanding role in the RFDS, we need to transform it into a flying intensive care unit. This is a two stage process which costs over three million dollars to complete.

The first stage involves the readying of the aircraft for emergency retrievals in difficult conditions. We have to modify the landing gear to allow for take-offs and landings on dirt airstrips. We also have to remove half of the aircraft, inserting reinforcements and creating a cargo door wide enough to allow for easy loading and unloading of stretcher patients. And we have to add a custom built stretcher system with a hydraulic lifting device to raise and lower patients to and from the aircraft.

The second stage involves equipping the interior of the aircraft with a full range of medical equipment, including a defibrillator, ventilator, oxygen and suction system, medical cabinets, monitors and stretchers. A separate medical battery must be installed to supply power to all on-board medical equipment. An integrated communication panel must be added to ensure medical staff can make emergency satellite phone calls while in flight.

Stage 1 conversion into a flying intensive care unit involves:

• cabin flooring and walls will be modified to provide hygienic surfaces for an easily sanitised working environment
• the floor will be replaced so that it is level, high-strength and sealed
• wall panelling will include built in pockets for flush mounting of utility outlets
• purpose built cabinets and shelving will be fitted to hold medical monitoring and specialist equipment
• personal safety equipment for all on board will be installed
• and most importantly, the aircraft will be transformed to allow life-saving surgical operations, intensive care and obstetrical procedures to take place whilst in flight.

Stage 2 medical fit-out includes (but is not limited to):