Starship Children’s Health, the largest children’s hospital in New Zealand, recently unveiled their new air ambulance, a specially equipped King Air 350. The aircraft contains a range of life-saving, state-of-the-art equipment and sports a customized paint job.
Officially called the Starship National Air Ambulance Service plane, the King Air will be faster and quieter than its predecessor. Operated by privately-owned New Zealand family business Skyline Aviation, its aim is to provide children being transported with the highest level of comfort possible. Children will also find the exterior pleasing; the artwork that adorns the plane was designed by New Zealand ad-agency Republik, and painted by Elliott Aviation. It features the faces of doctors, nurses, patients, rockets, planets and stars on a bright blue background.
“The high-tech equipment on-board is a mobile intensive care unit with full life-support capabilities, said John Beca, Clinical Director of Starship’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, “However, we shouldn’t underestimate the value of having a more child-friendly plane on the outside either.”
The King Air air ambulance is a part of a 24/7, seven days a week service. Its long range capability enables non-stop flights to all New Zealand locations as well as places in the Pacific and Australia to retrieve babies and children who are sick or injured. Patients are transported back to Starship for treatment in the Paediatric or Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Speeds of up to 300 knots means faster response and retrieval times. The plane also features the latest in aviation technology, including ‘synthetic vision’ which allows pilots a safe and reliable means of navigation day and night.
On-board specialists, including flight nurses and doctors, work to stabilize the patients before they are brought on board for transport. One of the nurses is Di Fuller, who has been on flight team for 14 years.
“If you know you’ve got good equipment, it makes our ability to look after children safer,” Fuller said, “It’s not just a taxi service. It is intensive care in the air – you need to concentrate and be on the ball all the time.”