First for aid FAI in good health

FAI Aviation Group is a global provider of mission critical aviation services. The 37-year-old company offers fixed-wing air ambulance, special missions, VIP charter, aircraft management and full MRO services. It has retained a sales and medical assistance office in Dubai for over 20 years.

It recently received Commercial Airline Medical Escort (CAME) accreditation from the European Aeromedical Institute (EURAMI) for its Dubai-based medical escort service.

Barbara Baumgartner, managing director, FAI rent-a-jet DMCC branch, said: “This is a fabulous endorsement for FAI and its medical escort service, which underlines our unwavering attention to quality, safety and service excellence in our air medical operations. Our Dubai-based medical escort service is hugely popular with our largest Middle Eastern clients and we look forward to continuing to welcome patients and all who fly with us throughout 2024 and beyond.”

The Dubai office offers a medical escort service on commercial aircraft as an additional service to its existing regional air ambulance clients as well as its direct clients.

The company has scooped a number of high-profile awards for its air ambulance work, including last year being awarded “air ambulance company of the year” from Middle East Aviation Awards during the Dubai Airshow.

“As the preferred partner of medical assistance, insurance and government organisations in the region for over two decades, FAI is experienced in meeting all the socio-cultural needs of its clients in the Middle East,” said Baumgartner.

“Of course, we also assist end clients to fly their family members for either treatment abroad or repatriate patients back to their home country. We offer an extensive regional network and importantly, a thorough understanding of the special characteristics of the region.”

Baumgartner offered a recent example of a medevac flight from the UAE.

“This month we flew a 29-year-old from the UAE to Los Angeles enabling the patient to hopefully use this last live-saving chance of a lung-transplant. It had been medically a very demanding mission but also logistically very challenging. To fly this high-risk critical patient literally around the world, we had to specially reconfigure one of our Challenger aircraft at our base in Germany prior to starting the mission from the UAE,” she explained.

Baumgartner said FAI Aviation Group is focusing on expanding its operational capabilities in Dubai recognising the critical importance of high-quality medical services in aviation.

“FAI Aviation Group is actively hiring more UAE-based doctors and nurses with ICU experience,” she said. “This expansion is aimed at enhancing the quality and range of its medical aviation services, reflecting its commitment to providing the highest standards of care and safety for its clients.”

The group’s fleet includes five Bombardier Global Express, six Bombardier Challenger 604s, and five Learjet 60s.

The company’s hub in the region is the dedicated business aviation airport, Al Bateen Executive in the UAE.

“Close access to Emirates and Etihad Airways enables efficient crew changes and also provides logistical support for FAI’s Asian business operation,” explained Baumgartner.

“While FAI does not currently base any aircraft permanently in the region, it will typically have at least one of the fleet operating in the Middle East daily.”

The company recently celebrated a ‘key milestone’ with its expansion in  the region.

“FAI has established a company in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This move aligns closely with the vision of its strategic shareholder, the Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, which is the sovereign wealth fund of Bahrain and a significant minority stakeholder in FAI Aviation Group,” said Baumgartner.

“Bahrain offers a strategic advantage with its recent airport expansion and strengthened position in the regional aviation space, positioning the Kingdom not only as a hub for regional traffic, but also as a key gateway for transitory traffic to Asia.”

A critical component of FAI Aviation Group's expansion in Bahrain is the pursuit of a Bahrain AOC (air operator certificate) license, aimed primarily at bolstering its VIP passenger charter business segment.

Baumgartner added: “The pursuit of the AOC license will enable FAI Aviation Group to operate more effectively within the region, offering enhanced services to its clients and reinforcing its commitment to excellence in aviation.”