What is a Medical Emergency

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And how do airlines respond…

With many FR24 and social media users on this site, you may be wondering what happens when a medical emergency is declared and you see a 4-digit number in the display panel.

The transponder setting (squawk) is 7700. This shows ATC that there is a general emergency onboard. By speaking to the flight crew, they can establish what the problem is and offer relevant assistance. If an aircraft is near to its destination, then priority landing clearance will be provided. An ambulance will also be in attendance. Whilst most emergencies can be successfully dealt with inflight by cabin crew using onboard medical equipment, about 1 in 12 people need medical assistance on landing. Cabin crew receive first aid training, including how to give CPR and operate a defibrillator. However, not all are trained to deliver babies although there is a section in the IATA Medical Training Manual.

What happens if the aircraft is 37,000 feet above the Atlantic when a medical emergency occurs?

Airlines have an agreement with medical assistance companies who can provide advice on treating the patient and next actions. They deliver a round-the-clock service using computer technology and air to ground links, by telephone or app.

Let’s look at one of these companies, MedAire, part of International SOS. Inflight Ground-Based Medical Advice (MedLink) is provided through 4 response centres. They are located in Frankfurt, Phoenix, Beijing and Johannesburg. A call or tap on app instantly connects flight crew with a ground-based medical team who can give assistance in more than 140 languages. A ground-based doctor will be quickly assigned to assess the passenger’s condition and give medical recommendations to manage the event. These doctors can also advise pilots on diversions. Once the diversion decision has been taken, an expert team will assist the pilots and their company’s dispatch, to ensure they divert to the most medically appropriate location.

Companies such as MedAire can also provide aviation related first aid kits and extensive crew training.

So, whilst such an event may be serious, airline “disaster” movies do have a degree of truth in the script. Have you heard the announcement “is there a doctor or nurse on board?” This is the first action whilst cabin crew assess the passenger. There have also been reports of doctors in USA refusing to help, for fear of litigation. However, on a few occasions, vets have offered their assistance…

In other news…

SATA Azores – their plans to expand into USA and Canada from PDL and FNC have been reassessed for 2025. The biggest casualty is FNC, which will no longer be served by these long-haul flights. Whilst most PDL ones remain, losses there include LGW and NAS.

Lufthansa Group – has completed its bid to hold a 41% stake in ITA. The remaining 59% will stay with Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance. There’s a new CEO, the former head of Air Dolomiti. It still remains LH Group’s aim to fully integrate the Italian carrier. Will LH insist on ITA returning to LHR, or continue with its very lucrative operations at LCY?

Global Airlines – their sole A380 has now left Mojave and is based at Beja, Portugal. The only airport there that has a runway large enough. The aircraft flown by pilots from HiFly, who are based there. Will this airline finally commence operations this year? Watch this space…

And finally…

AvTalk – if you’re not familiar, this is the FR24 podcast channel run by Jason Rabinowitz and Jon Ostrower. Very informative topics and good insights into incidents, airport roles and almost anything aviation related. Jason is currently in UK, having flown EWR-GLA. There is sure to be more publicity about his recent trip to BRR…

Information courtesy of MedAire, Aviation Week, Business Travel News Europe, HiFly, AvTalk

Images courtesy of FR24, MedAire