Onboard medical equipment will advance with real-time telemedicine technologies says Aeromedic/AMETEK MRO

Aeromedic is a leading provider of medical equipment to the aerospace industry responsible for the design, manufacture, repair and refurbishment of first aid kits and emergency medical kits that are supplied to airlines worldwide.

In-depth specialist knowledge of global regulatory approvals, complex compliance monitoring, and the interpretation of arcane import/export procedures, keeps Aeromedic at the forefront of this essential service.

According to Engineering Director Steve Rowley, changes to commercial air transport regulations around the world, have resulted in airlines needing to review and update their onboard medical provisions.

“I believe that airlines will increasingly look towards adopting new technology, with real-time telemedicine capabilities that can connect passengers and crew with remote medical experts and diagnostic tools in case of an emergency, such as mobile ECGs. Critical conditions can be accurately identified, avoiding the need for emergency landings and the significant cost and passenger inconvenience that ensues.”

In Europe, the CAA/EASA mandate that airlines must have kits on board every aircraft, also the number of kits required depends on the size of the aircraft.

“Airline cabin crews receive enhanced first aid training and will be fully aware of the kit contents and provisions available onboard their airline’s fleet,” says Rowley. “However, in addition to first aid kits (FAKs) and emergency medical kits (EMKs), Aeromedic manufactures a range of niche, specialist on board medical kits including universal precaution kits (UPKs) which are used in response to infectious disease on board, and emergency resuscitation kits (ERKs) make up further regulatory conformance.

"The scope is broad - from plasters and Calpol to ampoule trays and other medical devices – there are dozens of kit variants, and we use our expertise to help airlines and operators of all sizes navigate their way through this vital, but difficult, area. Aligning equipment capabilities to crew training and telemedic guidance opens a new area of onboard specification complexity.”

The new changes spearheaded by EASA have been widely adopted worldwide and include a significant increase in the minimum mandatory medicine and medical equipment provisions airlines must carry onboard. Resuscitation equipment, paediatric forms of medicine, and the addition of pulse oximeters are just a few examples of a broader spectrum of in-flight kit.

Aeromedic has a specialist combination of pharmaceutical/medical and aviation accreditations and is one of only a few organisations worldwide that can manage the design, sourcing, manufacture, and supply of first aid and medical kits on a large scale.

“In the commercial airline sector, our customers include leading European national carriers and low cost airlines,” says Rowley. “Each of these has bespoke kit contents that are defined by regulations, medical training protocols, base-station supply practices and much more.”

Many airlines recognise they cannot effectively manage or undertake this requirement themselves because of complicated global compliance monitoring. Airlines that operate worldwide need to be reassured they are compliant everywhere, and few businesses have the expertise needed to deliver a professional and 100% reliable service.

Aeromedic manages lots of products in suitable sizes to provide airlines with kits containing all the mandatory requirements, whilst being as lightweight, accessible and easy to use in an emergency as possible. The team is extremely knowledgeable and experienced regarding the control and logistics of kits, especially those subject to the import/export of controlled drugs across global jurisdictions. Aeromedic is authorised by the Home Office for the possession and supply of controlled drugs. It sources these drugs in bulk and repackages in small quantities for the kits – this work is supervised/approved by a qualified medical professional.

“Aeromedic’s bespoke kit processing software tracks the expiry date and batch number of hundreds of thousands of components every month,” explains Rowley. “Strict recycling protocols are followed during kit refurbishment processes meaning that all unused items with sufficient shelf life remain in the kits.

"Some airlines refurbish immediately a kit is opened; others have ‘tamper evident seals’ installed to keep the contents safe for multiple flights. Yet more have minimum equipment lists that need to be maintained. Every customer is different, however with increasing regulation and mandatory requirements, telemedicine technologies will be a game-changer in such a complex global environment. If airlines can harness technology, supported by crew training and carefully curated onboard medical kits and equipment, unnecessary and expensive diversions can be avoided, and the safety, well-being, and peace of mind of every passenger will be improved.”

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 3rd April 2025 | Issue #790

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