While crisis response management provider Fireside Partners has been an exhibitor and presenter at NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference (SDC) for years, for the show’s latest edition in Nashville, Tennesee, starting on January 24, the company will be featuring its Air-SOS program for the first time.

Launched in late 2021, the program focuses on specialty airlift assistance such as aeromedical transport, the repatriation of remains, or other sensitive flights where extra care and discretion are required. The company has established a thoroughly-vetted authorized provider network and organizes all transport details including the sourcing of aircraft. “Through this network, we have access to several specialty-configured aircraft to meet the different requirements of the unique operations we work, including larger medevac aircraft, which provide patient/passenger comfort closer to what our clients experience on their own fleet,” said Sarah Kiehl, Air-SOS program manager.

Arrangements also include setting up ground handling, coordinating with hospitals or funeral homes, and obtaining required approvals from local officials. The company can also provide counseling, family assistance, and personal effects handling services.

So far, Air-SOS has received an average of one request for assistance per week, a rate that it expects will increase as it becomes more well known, and has fielded missions as short as from Caspar, Wyoming to Dallas to as far as Rochester, Minnesota to Jakarta, Indonesia.

“What we’ve found in our first year of providing these services is that many families don’t know how difficult making airlift arrangements is until something tragic happens and they are scrambling to find support on short order,” explained Kiehl. “We are excited to have the opportunity to spread awareness of our services at SDC2023, so we can help more families in their time of need."