Calling emergency air support

The helicopter took off for Zhangjiakou at 9:10 am and returned to a helipad on North Fifth Ring road at 11:40 am.

By 7 pm, the patient had been transferred to an emergency care department.

The total cost was 100,000 yuan, a chunk of which would be covered by the family’s overseas insurance company.

The average standard fee is 30,000 yuan per hour.

Tian Zhenbiao, vice director of 999 emergency center, said helicopter transfers are still uncommon in China because they are expensive.

He said they were working with local insurance companies to find funding and lower the cost.

The flight supplier, Capital Airlines, said it would introduce 12 more helicopters for emergency use, covering all the way down to Zhujiang Delta in Guangdong Province.

How to call a helicopter:

Anyone can dial 999 for consulting. The emergency center will decide if the patient needs to be transferred via air depending on the patient’s condition, location, weather and air traffic management. 999 also needs to consult with the patient’s doctor to see if the patient is suitable to be transferred via air.