Air Ambulance 365 Days a Year
At Aerolíneas ATA we provide aeromedical transfers in Chile and across the Americas, with aircraft equipped as Intensive Care Units (ICU) and a specialized clinical team. We coordinate every stage of the service, bed to bed, providing continuous care during the transfer and close support for the patient and their family.
Fleet and Equipment
We transfer patients within Chile and to destinations across the Americas. Our fleet of Learjet 40 and Beechcraft King Air 200 aircraft lets us select the most suitable aircraft for each mission.
Our aircraft are equipped as intensive care units (ICU), with a mechanical ventilator, multiparameter monitor, defibrillator and infusion pumps, among other equipment that allows patient care to continue throughout the flight. We also have a transport incubator and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), depending on the needs of each transfer.
Aeromedical Solutions for Every Need
Every transfer requires specialized coordination.
Air Ambulance
- 01
Medical Assessment
Send us the patient's medical report. Our medical team will review it to determine the conditions and requirements of the transfer.
- 02
Destination Bed Confirmation
A confirmed bed at the destination is required to carry out the transfer. If you don't have one yet, we can guide you and help arrange it.
- 03
Coordination with the Sending Unit
Our team communicates directly with the unit where the patient is located to confirm their clinical condition and prepare the transfer.
- 04
Medical Team Selection
We define the most suitable medical team and equipment according to the patient's needs and condition.
- 05
Transfer Activation and Coordination
We activate the flight and coordinate ground ambulances at origin and destination for a bed-to-bed transfer.
Medical Escort
- 01
Medical Assessment
Send us the patient's medical report. Our team will assess their condition and determine whether they can safely travel on a commercial flight.
- 02
Medical Team Selection
We select the most suitable healthcare professionals to accompany the patient, according to their condition and needs during the trip.
- 03
Airline Coordination
We handle the requirements the patient needs in order to fly: the airline's medical clearance, clinical documentation and special onboard arrangements. When applicable, we arrange items such as oxygen, a stretcher, extra seats or other specific needs for the transfer.
- 04
End-to-End Transfer Coordination
We organize the flight itinerary and coordinate ground ambulances at origin and destination, bringing every stage together to support the patient throughout the process
Medical Escort
For stable patients who need professional accompaniment on commercial flights.
We accompany clinically stable patients who need professional care to travel on a commercial flight. Before the transfer, we review their medical report and coordinate the necessary care. During the journey, a healthcare professional monitors their condition and provides the care they need.
The patient must be able to remain seated during takeoff and landing.
Air Ambulance or Medical Escort?
The choice depends on the patient's condition and the care they need during the transfer. A medical escort provides professional accompaniment on a commercial flight for stable patients who can remain seated during takeoff and landing. An air ambulance allows the patient to travel on a stretcher, with a medical team and intensive care equipment providing specialized care throughout the flight.
Our team reviews the medical report and advises each family on the most suitable option.
When Is a Medical Escort Used?
- Clinically stable patients who need to travel to another city or country to continue treatment.
- Discharged patients who need professional accompaniment to return home.
- Patients who need clinical monitoring, medication or oxygen during a commercial flight, subject to the airline's assessment and approval.
How Is the MEDIF Handled?
When the airline requires a MEDIF (Medical Information Form), ATA coordinates it with the treating physician, who completes the patient's clinical information. We review the records and request the services needed for the trip, such as oxygen, a wheelchair or other assistance, subject to the airline's availability and conditions.
The airline's medical department reviews the request and decides whether to authorize the trip. Submitting a MEDIF does not guarantee approval.
Professional Team
We assign the most suitable healthcare professional to each patient, based on their clinical condition, the care they need during the flight and the airline's requirements. The escort may be a physician, a nurse or a nursing technician.
Common Routes
We provide medical escort transfers mainly on international flights, for repatriations, continuity of treatment or return to the country of residence after hospital discharge. We also accompany patients on flights within Chile who need professional care and whose condition allows them to fly on a commercial airline.
What Do You Need to Request a Transfer?
To assess the transfer, send us the updated medical report and tell us the patient's city of origin and destination. With this information, our team can advise you on the most suitable option and prepare a quote. If you don't yet have a confirmed bed at the receiving facility, we can help you arrange it.
Aeromedical operations with 38 years of experience and two hundred flights a year.
Aerolíneas ATA has operated since 1987 under DGAC AOC 010 and Health Authority Resolution 020959. Today our fleet logs more than 2,500 flight hours a year, with two Beechcraft King Air 200s and one Learjet 40, based at Santiago FBO. Aeromedical operations are a core part of the company, with two hundred flights a year including domestic referrals, transfers within the Americas and medical escorts on commercial flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is an air ambulance needed instead of a commercial flight?
An air ambulance is needed when the patient's condition requires specialized care, medical equipment or a transfer speed that a commercial flight cannot provide. At Aerolíneas ATA, our team reviews the medical report to determine the most suitable option.
How quickly can an air ambulance take off?
An Aerolíneas ATA air ambulance can take off in under two hours once the medical assessment is complete and the service is confirmed, subject to aircraft and crew availability, weather conditions and operational clearances. We handle requests 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
What medical team accompanies the patient?
Aerolíneas ATA air ambulance flights carry a physician, a nurse and a nursing technician, all experienced in intensive or emergency care and trained in aerospace medicine.
What medical equipment does the aircraft carry?
Aerolíneas ATA air ambulance aircraft carry intensive care equipment such as a mechanical ventilator, defibrillator, multiparameter monitor, infusion pumps and oxygen. Depending on the patient's needs, specific equipment is added, such as a neonatal incubator and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).
Which destinations do air ambulance flights cover?
Aerolíneas ATA provides air ambulance transfers within Chile, from Arica to Punta Arenas, and to destinations across the Americas. We select the aircraft based on distance, airport conditions and the patient's requirements.
What is a medical escort and when is it used?
A medical escort is the accompaniment of a healthcare professional on a commercial flight, for clinically stable patients who need monitoring, medication or other care. In this option, the patient must be able to remain seated during takeoff and landing and have any clearances the airline requires.
What is the MEDIF and who handles it?
The MEDIF (Medical Information Form) is a form the airline may require to assess the patient's travel conditions. Aerolíneas ATA coordinates it with the treating physician, who completes the clinical information, and arranges the necessary assistance. Final authorization rests with the airline.
Can the patient travel with a family member?
Yes, the patient can travel with a family member. One or two companions can fly on the air ambulance, depending on the patient's condition, the aircraft configuration and operating conditions. On commercial flights with a medical escort, the companion must have their own ticket and a seat on the same flight.
How do I request a medical transfer from Aerolíneas ATA?
You can request a medical transfer from Aerolíneas ATA through our contact form, via WhatsApp, by email at ambulancia@aerolineasata.cl or by phone at +56 9 9291 5980.
To assess the case, we need the updated medical report and the transfer destination. If the patient requires hospitalization, a bed must be confirmed at the receiving facility before the transfer. If you don't have one yet, we can help arrange it.