Aspen Medical International (AMI) has started to operate a Beechcraft 1900C from James Spriggs Payne Airport in Monrovia, Liberia. The turboprop will provide general aviation and medevac services to west Africa including Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

“Aspen's mission is to provide healthcare for our clients from point of injury or illness through to definitive care, regionally or internationally, and that means aero-medical evacuation,” says AMI group medical director Tom Crabtree.

AMI operates the Aspen Medical Liberia clinic, located in Monrovia, and will soon open Aspen Medical Sierra Leone in Freetown. “Developing medevac capability was the natural next step as we expanded our services in Liberia and west Africa,” adds Crabtree.

The B1900C will operate under HALO Aviation's South African Part 135 and Part 138 AOCs. Says HALO director Ryan Horsman: “We are proud to be associated with the aeromedical evacuation programme being offered by Aspen Medical International.

“Our reputable name in the industry in Africa made us a natural choice for AMI. The aircraft is capable of accepting four patients and will be crewed by HALO personnel and operated under our charter and aeromedical licenses.”

Part 138 is the South African CAA's endorsement to conduct medical missions. Under this certification, which is considered to be the highest standard available on the continent and commensurate with European and United States standards, all air crew are required to attend a professionally developed and detailed Part 138 training course.

The B1900C can transport up to 19 passengers and is able to support emergency response work using specially-configured Spectrum AeroMed life support equipment.