Singapore-based air mobility provider Ascent announced the launch of a new service providing both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to carry patients for The Medical City hospital group in the Philippines. The flights are operated by local partner Inaec Aviation using a mix of King Airs, Bell 429s, and Airbus Helicopters EC135s and AS350B2s.
The aircraft are equipped to provide a “medical travel bubble” for patients needing transfer to hospitals throughout the large country, which includes multiple islands. The Medical City has contracted with Ascent and Inaec for a range of flights, including providing hospital transfers, moving medical cargo, and transporting personnel in time-sensitive situations.
Each year, The Medical City cares for more than 50,000 inpatients and 500,000 outpatients. With the aircraft assets, the hospital group will now be able to move patients between its Clark and Ortigas facilities in just 25 minutes, compared with a drive-time of almost two hours.
Ascent also has an app that allows travelers to book on-demand helicopter flights in around 15 locations across the Philippines and Thailand using Inaec Aviation, as well as Advance Aviation and SFS Aviation. The company recently launched a new platform called AirborneX that lets helicopter owners offer their aircraft to other operators under dry leases (without flight crew).