In a medical situation, reaching the right care can require careful coordination across locations. Costa Rica’s mountains, coastlines, and remote communities can make a helicopter a valuable option when a medical team determines that air transport is appropriate. Nacascolo Air works with SAAT on its aeromedical flights, bringing aviation operations and specialized medical care together.
Two teams, one coordinated mission
Nacascolo Air provides the helicopter, pilots, flight planning, and aviation operations. SAAT provides the aeromedical team and coordinates the clinical care required for the patient. Together, the teams coordinate the flight with the referring and receiving parties.
An air ambulance is more than a helicopter carrying a patient. The clinical team must assess whether the patient is fit to fly, identify the level of care required during transport, and arrange an appropriate handover at the destination. The aviation team evaluates the route, aircraft configuration, landing sites, weather, daylight, and operational feasibility. Every case is assessed individually.
When might a helicopter help?
A helicopter may be considered for a transfer from a location with limited road access, a time-sensitive interfacility transfer, or a journey where ground travel would be particularly long. It can also connect with ground ambulances to complete the first and last parts of a patient’s journey. The decision depends on clinical judgment and whether a safe flight can be carried out; a helicopter is not automatically the right choice for every patient.
Our Airbus EC130 B4 and Bell 505 are authorized for aeromedical transport. The choice of aircraft depends on the patient’s needs, the medical team and equipment required, and the conditions of the flight. SAAT provides the aeromedical personnel, while the exact crew, equipment, route, and receiving facility are coordinated for each case.
How a request is coordinated
To assess a potential flight, the teams need the patient’s location and destination, the referring clinician’s assessment, the required medical support, and the contact details for the receiving facility. Nacascolo Air then reviews aircraft availability and flight conditions while SAAT coordinates the clinical requirements. A proposed itinerary and quotation can follow once those details are clear.
When circumstances are urgent, clear communication matters as much as speed. We approach each mission with discretion, operational discipline, and respect for the patient and family.
Need to coordinate an aeromedical flight in Costa Rica? Contact Nacascolo Air with the proposed origin, destination, and medical coordination details. All flights are subject to medical acceptance, aircraft availability, weather, landing permissions, and applicable approvals.
