Setting new standards for members and patients - LAR presents Challenger 605 long-haul ambulance jet

The entry into service of the newest member of the fleet marks a milestone for the medical care and comfort of LAR members. Being the first long-haul aircraft in LAR history, the Challenger 605 allows for even faster repatriations and, thanks to its spacious cabin, ensures the best possible conditions for operational crews and patients. The new aircraft bearing the registration LX-RHC offers significant advantages: The state-of-the-art Bombardier Chal- lenger 605 ambulance jet features a range of up to 7,400 km, enabling it to reach non-stop destinations in sub-Saha- ran Africa, in Central Asia as far as the border of Mongolia, in the Middle East and in Eastern Canada. Nearly all other destinations can be reached by the new LAR flagship with just a single refuelling stop.

Thanks to the long range, stopovers can be avoided in most cases. This makes mission planning much easier and directly benefits the members and patients of LAR: the crews are ready for take-off more quickly and can leave for their missions sooner, reducing the waiting time for people who have often experienced dramatic situations abroad and wish for nothing more than a quick trip home.

 LAR President René Closter commented: “The Challenger 605 has been configured specifically to meet our needs and sets new standards for our members. LAR’s first long-range ambulance jet features the latest technical and medical equipment and enables our mission crews to reach more distant countries without a stopover – a decisive advantage for our members and patients.” 

Another key advantage of the Challenger 605 is its spacious cabin, which can be flexibly configured and optimally adapted to the medical needs of the patients. It allows the simultaneous transport of two intensive care patients and also offers space for up to four accompanying persons. This is particularly beneficial for families and passengers travelling together.

The additional on-board space also facilitates the work of the emergency crews. In the spacious “stand-up cabin”, they can provide care for patients in an upright position. The CL 605 thus ensures optimal conditions for the emergency teams, who need a cool head even in critical situations.

Last but not least, the LX-RHC opens up new possibilities for the repatriation of highly infectious patients. Its cabin is designed for the installation of an Infectious Disease Module (IDM), a treatment unit that offers more space for infectious patients while ensuring optimal conditions for the medical staff.

With its fleet of state-of-the-art ambulance aircraft, Luxembourg Air Rescue carries out numerous repatriations every year. In 2019, before the start of the COVID pandemic, it transported no fewer than 900 patients. This year, the trend is again strongly upwards: in 2022, LAR has enabled many hundreds of people to travel home safely on board its flying intensive care units.