Specialized respiratory therapy can be hard to sustain in the air for patients who need more than standard oxygen on a long-range medical flight. AirCARE1 now offers FAA-authorized inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) aboard its Learjet 60.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Nov. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Arranging a medical flight for a patient who needs oxygen can mean weighing long-range travel against the intensive respiratory care a hospital provides. With FAA authorization secured after the required clinical, operational and aviation steps, AirCARE1 can now carry and administer iNO aboard its Learjet 60, maintaining uninterrupted care from the departing facility to the destination.
What Does Inhaled Nitric Oxide Add to Respiratory Support in Flight?
iNO adds a targeted therapy that relaxes blood vessels in the lungs, helping more oxygen reach the bloodstream. The prescription gas is delivered through a breathing circuit and is used for medically fragile patients, especially infants with pulmonary hypertension.
Air ambulance oxygen support at AirCARE1 now includes this specialized gas. Nitric oxide is a regulated hazardous material, so the authorization requires dedicated equipment, tailored procedures, thorough documentation and clinicians trained to administer it during flight.
How Do Families and Case Managers Arrange Medical Air Transport With Oxygen?
Families, case managers and insurers can arrange medical air transport with oxygen through the air ambulance provider, which matches the aircraft's equipment and crew to the patient's respiratory needs.
AirCARE1 handles long-range, fixed-wing, nonemergency transports, with jets covering long distances, while helicopters serve shorter ranges. Patients fly once stabilized, usually when moving between facilities, heading home or unable to travel commercially.
The aircraft serves as an intensive care unit (ICU), so patients receive high-quality care throughout a time-sensitive transport. Holistic care comes at no extra cost and includes noise cancellation, hand massages and aromatherapy, reflecting AirCARE1's aim to help each patient arrive in better condition than at the start of transport. For case managers, AirCARE1's continuing education course equips them with the tools they need to successfully assist their patients with an air ambulance transport.
The ICU-style cabin and the comfort measures work alongside the new iNO capability. Together, they help keep a patient's breathing steady and the journey calm from departure to arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below cover common considerations when oxygen is part of a patient's transport plan.
How can a family book a medical flight for a patient who needs oxygen?
A family books through the air ambulance provider, which confirms the patient is stable enough to fly and that the aircraft can support the patient's respiratory needs.
What happens during a flight for a patient on supplemental oxygen?
An oxygen medical flight maintains respiratory support from takeoff to landing, with the aircraft carrying the necessary equipment and a clinical crew managing the patient's breathing.
About AirCARE1
AirCARE1 provides long-range, fixed-wing air ambulance transport for patients moving between medical facilities or between home and medical facilities, and for those who cannot fly commercially. The company is dual-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems and the European Aeromedical Institute, a pairing few air ambulance providers hold.
Media Contact
Shana Potter, AirCARE1, 1 877-760-7760, [email protected], https://www.airambulanceone.com
SOURCE AirCARE1
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