GMR has revealed that it will be one of the North American launch clients for Airbus’s recently created helicopter, a specially constructed aircraft created from the ground up to satisfy the intricate requirements of the air medical transport sector.

In order to provide industry leaders’ insights into the design and development of a next-generation aircraft, Airbus invited GMR to join its customer advisory team in 2022.

GMR Chief Operating Officer Ted Van Horne stated, “We have been working with Airbus since the beginning to make sure that every aspect of this aircraft is in line with the practical requirements of air medical operations.”

To work together at Airbus’s development facilities, GMR dispatched a team comprising frontline medics, pilots, and aircraft maintenance personnel. Together with other industry players, the team participated in thorough design assessments and contributed more than 600 considerations on issues like maintenance access, stretcher placement, cabin illumination, and accommodations for patients with special requirements.

The following important innovations are immediately incorporated into the new aircraft based on feedback from industry leaders:

• Better maintenance access: gaining simpler access to regularly maintained parts boosts aircraft uptime, which is essential for on-demand emergency medical services.
• Better access is made possible when transporting incubators and other neonatal equipment thanks to a revised rear-cabin “tunnel clearance.”
• More comfortable travel: the sophisticated rotor system lessens vibration, improving patient comfort and aircraft longevity.
• Increased payload and range: the aircraft offers greater flexibility for fuel, equipment, and personnel due to its 20% larger cabin and 20% increase in useful load, which is essential for missions at higher altitudes and over longer distances.
• Improved flight stability and safety are provided by a four-axis autopilot system, particularly in challenging situations and bad weather.

With 15 units already ordered and scheduled to go into service in 2029, GMR will be the first airline in North America to operate the aircraft.

Van Horne stated, “This is a new advancement for the helicopter emergency services mission, not just a new aircraft.” “It exemplifies what can be achieved when a manufacturer and a mission-driven operator collaborate from the beginning.”