Airmedic has unveiled a new permanent medical cabin purpose-built for its Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft, strengthening its specialised air medical transport and international patient repatriation capabilities.
The new cabin is already in service aboard the first aircraft. It is designed as a permanent clinical environment rather than a temporary transport configuration, supporting more consistent workflows for critical care teams during short- and long-haul medical missions.
This is relevant because air medical transport depends not only on aircraft range and speed, but also on the quality of the clinical workspace inside the cabin. During critical care transport, crews need reliable access to equipment, adequate patient handling space, infection control surfaces and communication tools that allow care to continue while the aircraft is in flight.
Airmedic said the cabin was developed from operational experience and direct feedback from crews, clients and patients. The configuration was designed to improve clinical access, optimise medical crew workflow and ensure essential equipment is immediately available during complex transports.
The cabin was developed in collaboration with Fargo Jet Center’s engineering teams and certified by both the Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada through a Supplemental Type Certificate. This regulatory pathway is important because aircraft medical interiors must meet both aviation and healthcare operational requirements.
Key features include an advanced LifePort stretcher system, stainless steel-clad composite sidewall panels for hygiene and durability, and a custom medical cabinet to keep essential equipment protected and accessible. Overhead rails allow devices such as a defibrillator monitor, transport ventilator and intravenous therapy units to be secured above the care area, keeping them within ergonomic reach of the patient.
The cabin also includes expanded loading clearance to support patient handling, including bariatric cases and incubator transports. Medical-grade surfaces are intended to support decontamination between missions, while a custom privacy curtain helps preserve patient dignity during flight.
A new Skytrac ISAT-200A satellite communication and flight-tracking system has also been added. This allows crews to consult physicians hands-free during flight, supporting clinical coordination without interrupting patient care.
The investment is part of a broader fleet modernisation strategy. A second Learjet 45XR is expected to receive the same permanent medical configuration in the coming months, bringing total investment in both cabin conversions to around CAD 2 million. These conversions form part of an overall CAD 18 million commitment to Airmedic’s Bombardier Learjet 45XR fleet.
The aircraft will support international repatriation missions while remaining available for urgent inter-hospital transfers in Quebec. Airmedic has expanded its services over the past three years to include international air ambulance operations using Pilatus PC-12 NG and Bombardier Learjet 45XR aircraft, as well as medical escort services on commercial flights.
The company is strategically based in Montreal, a transatlantic hub between Europe and the Americas, and holds EURAMI international accreditation for fixed-wing operations. Its dedicated medical fleet includes six Pilatus PC-12 NG aircraft and two Bombardier Learjet 45XR jets. For healthcare systems and insurers, value may be tied to reliable repatriation, clinical continuity and reduced risk during complex transfers.
The development reflects the growing professionalisation of aeromedical transport as a clinical service, not only a logistics function. As patient repatriation and cross-border care needs increase, aircraft interiors designed around critical care workflows may become a stronger differentiator for specialised air medical operators.
