Aviation medical assistance
Give pilots and cabin crews a direct, structured way to reach an emergency medicine physician, share useful patient information and manage an in-flight medical event without relying on a chain of relayed messages.
Direct answer
Aviation medical assistance gives a flight crew real-time access to clinical guidance during a passenger or crew medical event.
Skali combines a device-agnostic telemedicine platform, emergency medicine physicians supplied through Vituity, low-bandwidth communications and an aviation-specific backup workflow. The aim is to help the crew communicate the situation clearly, support the person in distress and make better-informed operational decisions.
Clinical guidance in the air
During a medical event, incomplete information can force crews and ground teams to make decisions with limited context. Skali is built to move the relevant details to the physician more efficiently.
Skali's published partnership with Vituity provides licensed emergency medicine physicians on call around the clock. The physician can guide the response and provide medical and operational input based on the information available.
The platform can organize patient details and available vital signs before or during the call. That gives the physician a clearer picture than a short radio description alone.
When connectivity permits, live video lets the physician communicate directly with the crew or patient. This can reduce the need for pilots to act as intermediaries while they manage the flight.
Built for aircraft connectivity
Aircraft connections can be constrained, inconsistent or temporarily unavailable. Skali's communications approach is designed around those conditions rather than a hospital-grade network.
Skali states that the platform is designed to maintain full functionality, including HD video, at bandwidth below 8 Mbps. This makes the service suitable for satellite Wi-Fi and degraded network conditions where ordinary consumer telemedicine tools may struggle.
When Wi-Fi is lost, the crew follows the operator's configured backup procedure. For aviation customers, Skali's published workflow includes a direct radio connection through ARINC, with satellite-phone use available where the aircraft and operating procedure support it.
Connectivity, response channels and backup procedures vary by aircraft and operator. They should be documented during deployment and practiced during crew training.
A practical in-flight workflow
The exact procedure is tailored to the operator, but the response should remain simple enough to use during a stressful event.
One connected program
Telemedicine is only one part of readiness. Skali connects the physician workflow with customized aviation medical kits and crew training so the person on the aircraft can find the right equipment and communicate effectively.
Kit programs can be configured around the aircraft, operation and applicable requirements, with subscriber ownership and restocking options available.
Training familiarizes crews with the app, the kit, physician communication and CRM roles before they face a real medical event.
Aircraft connectivity, escalation paths, authorized users and technical support are established around the customer's operating environment.
Operational questions
The crew moves to the backup communication procedure configured for that aircraft. Skali's published aviation model includes direct radio connection through ARINC, while satellite phone may also be used where available. The exact fallback sequence should be established during deployment and training.
Skali states that Vituity supplies licensed emergency medicine physicians on call 24/7. The physician provides guidance based on the information that the crew can safely collect and transmit.
Skali is designed to be device agnostic. Depending on the operator's deployment, authorized users can access the workflow from existing smartphones, tablets or laptops instead of dedicated proprietary hardware.
No. The physician can provide medical and operational information, but the pilot in command and the operator remain responsible for decisions under applicable regulations, company procedures and the circumstances of the flight.
Skali's published subscription model covers people involved with a subscribed operation and is not limited to the time the aircraft is airborne. Final coverage and authorized use are defined by the customer's agreement.
Talk with the Skali team
Tell Skali about your fleet, connectivity, crew structure and current medical-response procedure. The team can outline an implementation approach for your operation.
