The Ungava Tulattavik Health Centre has introduced a state-of-the-art Dash-8 100 aircraft dedicated to medevac services for the seven Ungava communities, ensuring round-the-clock availability with a specialized medical team.
“This is not just an upgrade; it’s a game changer,” said Nathalie Boulanger, the centre’s professional services director, at a ceremony in Kuujjuaq’s airport hangar. Reflecting on her 30 years in Nunavik, she recalled how past medical evacuations felt more like “extreme sports” than structured health care. The long-anticipated aircraft marks a major leap in safety and efficiency for patients and staff.
Previously, medical evacuations relied on smaller King Air or Otter planes not designed for health services. The Dash-8 100 is customized for medevac operations, featuring a side cargo door with a built-in platform aligned to stretcher height, reducing injury risks for healthcare workers. Additionally, an onboard incubator eliminates the need for disassembly when transporting newborns, potentially saving 30 minutes per evacuation.
Equipped with securely anchored medical supplies, accessible storage, and constant heating, the aircraft’s interior is adaptable, with capacity for two to three stretchers and seating for up to 14 passengers. “We are going from the Stone Age to the age of electricity,” Boulanger said.
Between 2023 and 2024, 917 medical evacuations were conducted along the Ungava coast, serving over 7,000 residents across seven villages. The new aircraft can also support urgent cases on the Hudson coast when needed. “It’s a very autonomous aircraft,” said health centre director Larry Watt, emphasizing its ability to operate without external power sources.
Tested over recent weeks, the plane has already proven its capabilities, successfully transporting multiple patients suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. “A real workhorse,” Watt remarked.
The Dash-8 100 acquisition resulted from a collaboration between the health centre, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, and Air Inuit, with the health board committing $8 million annually for ten years.
Air Inuit’s executive chairperson, Noah Tayara, noted the aircraft’s efficiency, stating that with favorable winds, it can fly from Salluit to Montreal nonstop. Purchased used from Italy with just 26,000 flight hours, it underwent a year-long modification process, approved by Transport Canada.
“With this plane, the sky is the limit,” Tayara said. “As Nunavik continues to grow, more could follow.”
Source: Swifteradio.com
