Paramedics in Jet Suit Fly Up During a Heavy Rain in Trial To Future Emergency Rescue

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) has reached a new milestone after one of its paramedics used a jet pack to fly up a hill in gusts of more than 30 miles per hour and heavy rain.

Jet Suit Technology on the Emergency Scene

According to Daily Mail, the flight was a part of a Jet Suit technology trial to help doctors access patients in hard-to-reach areas like the Lake District.

According to the Telegraph, the flying suit, created by Gravity Industries' founder Richard Browning, can travel up to 85 miles per hour at the height of more than 12,000 feet. It can fly for up to ten minutes due to its five miniature jet engines, two of which are housed in units attached to each hand and one of which is housed in a backpack.

This is the first test of paramedics using jet packs to reach stranded hikers and treat life-threatening wounds before helicopters or ground crews arrive.

Instead of focusing on how quickly patients can be transported to hospitals, the ultimate goal is to reduce the time it takes for medical personnel to reach patients and provide life-saving care.

First Flight After Training

After around ten days of training, Browning and GNAAS paramedic Jamie Walsh took off in bad weather and up a short, sharp hill.

Browning praised the advancements made since the proof of concept back in 2020. He noted how far they have come in using Jet Suit technology in the medical response field and remarked that it was an absolute honor to practically fly alongside Jamie.

The Lake District is highly hilly, making rescue missions difficult for paramedics even though they make for a beautiful backdrop for hikers.

Paramedic on a Motorbike

According to GNAAS, the idea resembles a paramedic riding a motorcycle. A single paramedic has the option of treating the patient right away or releasing them. They can set up the necessary long-term care.

A multi-agency reaction has already been initiated in the Lake District for any incidence of this nature. Mountain rescues will respond, and the paramedics could provide data to help them respond better and with the right equipment.

The GNAAS testing started in 2020 after Browning flew over the challenging terrain of Langdale Pike at heights of up to 20 feet, demonstrating that it was feasible while the jet suit has been under development since 2017.

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Testing Schedule

Using his Jet Suit, which cost more than £300,000, the Chief Test Pilot scaled the 3,117-foot pinnacle of the Helvellyn mountain in less than eight minutes. In contrast, a helicopter would require three times as much time, and a paramedic traveling on foot would need at least an hour.

Walsh has participated in training sessions at the Goodwood headquarters of Gravity Industries as well as in the Lake District, and as a result, he is now in a position to be able to reach a victim on a Cumbrian slope.

According to Browning, the Jet Suit can generate up to 144 kg of force. It turns out that the thrust-to-weight ratio is higher than any other jet fighter that we are aware of.