SPECTRUM AEROMED IS KNOWN FOR CAPABILITY, ADAPTABILITY, AND A COMMITMENT TO HELPING EMS OPERATORS SAVE LIVES. THAT’S WHY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY AROSE TO WORK WITH LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK (LFN) ON A REVISED VERSION OF THE MEDICAL INTERIOR SPECTRUM HAD DESIGNED FOR THE BELL 429 HELICOPTER A FEW YEARS PRIOR, THERE WAS NO HESITATION.
Since 1991, this North Dakota company has designed awardwinning medical interiors and equipment for all kinds and sizes of aircraft, most of which are designed to fit several different aircraft. But the company is no stranger to combining engineering know-how, technical skill and customer service to create unique solutions for individual clients.
Spectrum Aeromed’s vice-president and account executive Matthew Christenson spoke on the company’s belief in listening to the customer’s needs to determine “what they really want from their air medical solution.”
Life Flight Network liked the Bell 429’s interior, but wanted to add customizations that included a single Pivot Stretcher, forward medical cabinet with a liquid oxygen 10-liter orb, medical pivoting seat, ceiling valance, medical lighting and a light weight floor protection kit, according to Christenson.
The additional components will provide a variety of benefits, specifically in the areas of accessibility. The Pivot Stretcher’s rotating, extension and locking capabilities allow for a better ease of loading and handling patients in addition to safer patient access in-flight. The cabin will have capacity for up to three medical seats, including a rotating seat with patient access. Medical equipment can be secured by the mounted Stretcher Bridge. For neonatal missions, an Infant Transport Deck can instead be secured to the base deck.
In 2020, Spectrum Aeromed will send the interior kits to Bell, who will perform the installation and delivery of the helicopters to LFN. The Pivot/Articulating Stretcher and base deck, medical swivel seat, and medical mounts are established designs, while the floor adapter attachment is an update to an existing product, according to Christenson. The other items for Spectrum’s Bell 429 EMS interior solution are all new designs — but this solution isn’t limited to just one helicopter EMS provider or style, according to Christenson.
“[The Bell 429 solution] should hold some nice versatility that others would be able to utilize with no modifications. If they do need modifications, that will also be easy enough to capture and provide with a supplemental type certificate (STC) upgrade,” he said.
In addition to LFN’s interior solutions, Spectrum Aeromed is currently hard at work on four other STCs that may appeal to operators with different fleet considerations. The current available STC is a Dual-Patient solution for the Leonardo AW139. “This new design allows an operator to transport two patients and four medical personnel,” said Ricky Reno, VP and account executive for Spectrum, allowing “utility, offshore and multi-mission operators the ability to transport up to two patients with no aircraft modifications needed.”
The other STCs in development are the Pilatus PC-24 light jet, Embraer Phenom 300 light jet, and Leonardo AW169. While Spectrum has a launch customer for the Pilatus PC-24 light jet project, Spectrum is looking for an aircraft for the Embraer Phenom 300 project. “We have the STC number, and the design and equipment are complete. We are looking for an aircraft to use for the conformity now, so we can finish out the STC process and be ready for a customer.” At the end of 2020, Spectrum wants to have its solution for the Leonardo AW169 completed given the growing popularity of the new helicopter.
But Spectrum Aeromed’s commitment to its clients looks far beyond 2020. The idea, Christenson said, is “support for life” — a kind of partnership that transcends the life of whatever product or solution the client chooses.
“The relationship we have with each of them will last … hopefully beyond that,” Christenson said. “Our long-term commitment to each customer ensures they can commit, every day, to saving lives.”