Quebec's medical helicopter service has completed 114 missions since its June 2026 launch

MONTREAL — Air ambulance teams in Quebec report encouraging results since the helicopter medical transport service was launched last summer. The teams have carried out 114 missions to move critically ill patients to specialized centres.

The new service allows patients to be moved more quickly from regional hospitals, particularly when their condition requires urgent intervention to save their lives or reduce the risk of complications.

Dr. James Tou, deputy director of helicopter medical transport services with the Quebec air medical evacuation program (ÉVAQ), said the experience has shown its value in providing an additional option between ground ambulances and medical airplanes.

114 medical missions in five months

Data recorded up to Nov. 6, 2026, show 114 missions, 12 of which departed from the Mirabel airport base, which came into service on Oct. 19.

The remaining 102 missions were carried out from the Jean Lesage International Airport base in Quebec City, which began operations in mid-June.

The service currently targets patients in health facilities located between 75 and 250 kilometres from the specialized centres in Montreal and Quebec City.

Tou noted that the speed of transport helped medical teams deal with serious cases, including road accident victims who needed ventilators and blood transfusions during the flight.

The published figures do not include an official survival rate, although officials say the initial interventions have produced positive results.

A full resuscitation room in the air

The helicopter carries a physician, a nurse specializing in critical care and two pilots, with the option of adding two more people when necessary.

On board are pumps for administering medication and fluids, a portable ultrasound device, and equipment that allows blood tests to be performed during flight.

Tou explained that most of the participating physicians specialize in emergency or intensive care medicine and have experience treating medically unstable patients.

Nurse Kadia Fal said the crew keeps a spare bag containing essential medications and equipment so it is ready for a new mission immediately after the previous one ends.

According to officials, the helicopter can take off in less than 15 minutes after a request is received, while flights usually take between half an hour and two hours.

How teams choose the right means of transport

The medical coordination centre of the ÉVAQ program assesses hospital requests and selects the most suitable means of transport for each patient.

A medical airplane may be used for long distances, while a ground ambulance may be more suitable for shorter ones.

Besides faster arrival times, helicopters help keep physicians and nurses in regional hospitals instead of accompanying patients on road trips that can take five to eight hours.

This is a benefit for small health facilities with limited human resources, especially when they receive several emergency cases at once.

Weather and limited space

Despite the positive results, medical teams face difficulties working inside the cabin because of the limited space and the need to handle equipment and the patient during flight.

Cold weather is an additional challenge, because the helicopter cabin is not pressurized like those of medical airplanes.

The teams use warming blankets and specialized equipment to protect patients, while weather conditions remain a factor in whether some flights can be carried out.

Plans to extend the service to remote communities

The first phase of the program lasts five years, and the work is currently limited to transferring patients between health facilities.

However, authorities are considering expanding it to include remote-area clinics and Indigenous communities, with the possibility of responding directly to accident scenes in the future.

New helipads are also being developed near hospitals, including the one at the Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus in Quebec City, which is expected to open in 2027.

The provincial government had awarded a five-year, $45.8-million contract to supply the helicopters needed to operate the service.

The missions completed so far reflect the importance of air ambulances in shortening patient transport times, while the success of the planned expansion will depend on the readiness of helipads, the availability of crews and continued funding.