The third Challenger 650 kitted out for medevac missions by Flying Colours, under contract from Bombardier Specialized Aircraft, has arrived at Swiss Air-Rescue Rega’s facility in Switzerland. The third cabin was fitted in December 2018 and has an identical format to the first two jets, which were completed earlier in 2018.
Working with medical equipment specialist Aerolite, and Bombardier Specialized Aircraft, Flying Colours designed, manufactured and installed the majority of the non-medical monuments, furnishings and interior components. The cabin can function as an intensive care unit for two patients with attending medical experts, or can be configured to transport up to four patients. The cabin can also accommodate specialized medical equipment when needed.
In the cabin, a gray and white palette was chosen to create a calming environment. This is accented with red handles and fixings. Flying Colours says “significant consideration” was given to soundproofing. In the aft section, the two galleys incorporate Enflite ovens, coffee makers and customized double-width fridges that provide extra space to store medical supplies. There is a lavatory next to the baggage area – overall the layout was designed to ensure easy egress and access for patients and medical teams.
Flying Colours’ dedicated paintwork team worked to create an easily recognizable livery featuring a solid red flash across the front portion and a red and white element on the tail.
“We are extremely pleased with the successful completion of these three incredible aircraft,” said Sean Gillespie, executive vice president at Flying Colours. “The intelligently designed interiors ensure crew and clinicians can effectively operate no matter how challenging the environment. Patients and passengers benefit from an extremely comfortable medical environment, which we recognize in some cases will be life-saving. We understand that the first two aircraft are already working hard and that this third and final Challenger 650 aircraft will be a welcome addition to the fleet. It was an exciting project to work on as we completed each aircraft to the highest quality on time and on budget. The complexity and very specific requirements of these aircraft demonstrate the expertise within our special-missions team and we look forward to working on similar projects in the near future.”
