490 patients transported with CAF helicopters in 2011
CAF helicopters have transported a total of 490 patients and over 950 escort personnel (escorts and medical staff), with 1383 flights conducted. Medical transportation for sick and injured people have been conducted by crews of the 91st and 93rd Air Force Base of the Croatian Air Force and Air Defence and transport helicopters Mi-8 MTV, Mi-17 1 VA and Mi-171 Sh.
During 2011 medical flights of helicopters were mostly conducted from central Dalmatian islands (Hvar, Korčula, Brač, Vis, Šolta, Lastovo), particularly during the summer tourist season from June to September when on average more than 60 patients per month were transported.
Interventions were also during the rest of the year, and patients were usually transported from the Croatian coast, mostly from Dubrovnik, Metković, Makarska, Zadar, Lošinj, Pula and Rijeka. Thus, the helicopters participated in transporting patients (locals and foreign tourists) from the island, injured in traffic accidents, in the transport of newborns, babies, pregnant women with complications in pregnancy, etc.
In the last three years, 2009-2011, the armed forces achieved over 3400 flights in which 1229 patients and 2730 escorts were transported.
Emergency medical transport of CAF helicopters, such as injured persons to medical facilities, and emergency medical transport of organs for transplantation is one of the critical forms of assistance to the civilian population and support to the health system in Croatia by the Armed Forces provided since 1993. Emergency medical flights are conducted at the request of institutions across the 112 centre of the National Protection and Rescue Directorate, and in normal meteo conditions, helicopters are in the air in 10 to 15 minutes.
Besides for emergency medical transport, CAF helicopters also participate in search and rescue operations.