Which King Air do you think?

[dhc8fo]

Alright gentlemen....for an air ambulance, which King Air would be your choice and why?

I think the 350 is out of the said budget, but the guys are pretty set on a King Air....so 90, 100, 200 or 300 and why?

Thanks

 

[CaravanMan]

Well, I haven't flown anything other than a 90 and 350, but we use 90s for our EMS ops and it works really well for what we do. I don't know how 200s do on short strips (3000ft), but I'm sure they do fine too. A 200 would be really nice for longer trips, but if you're sticking to 300nm range or so then the 90 would probably do alright. It's the 2.5 hr trips that suck in the 90!

 

[mdanno808]

Yup, the 90 is the airplane unless you are flying longer distances. In that case, a 200.

 

[G-force]

Best Kingair

Go with the Be-B200!!!!

 

[epps]

Why not a 1900D? It is a streched 200 with a stand up cabin. Plus, there are lots of them parked that could be had for cheap.

 

[B1900FO]

I would say go for the B200 so you have the flexibility. The 90 is a great airplane, so I cannot argue. The 350 is nice, but unless you're gonna haul 8 bodies and bags all the time it's impractical. I would agree with epps on getting a 1900D. The 1900D will stop shorter than any of the aformentioned King Airs. I miss the Mighty Beech!!!

 

[SEVEN]

B-200. No type required. Great range and decent speed.

 

[135fr8r]

I'd say the 300. It by far the best for short strips, it's fast, and hey you'll get a type out of the deal.

 

[flyboyike]

If you're doing short trips and with one patient, the C90 should do handsomely.

 

[Trogdor]

Go with the 90. That thing is impossible to get out of CG.

 

[Thedude]

I would say the 200 also. Bigger engines and cruises a little faster. Just get one that has a good vapor cycle a/c for gnd ops. If memory serves, I believe the 200 has an eletric VCM instead of a belt driven one.

 

[hyflyt560]

300. Fast, can bulk it out with full fuel. 200 if you don't want to worry about type ratings. Not sure if the 90 can be fitted with the cargo door, but the 200 can.

200's came with electric or belt driven compressors.

 

[Say Again Over]

Area of operation being the big factor, have flown both, from the pilot's standpoint it's hard to beat the 200, this allows room for a family member if it is desired, 200 also great for the odd long range transport. Are you responding to a wide range of airports or are you mainly serving an outlying facility based nearby, I was based in ABQ and flew throughout NM, in an early 90, this was fine for patient transport, the other company I worked for operated the 200 with double LIFE-PORT systems, flying two Pt's didn't happen too often but it did occur, we also had a modified isolete for newborn transport that fit on the LIFE_PORT.

 

[dhc8fo]

Thanks so far guys, keep it coming though. You made me realize I forgot to ask them a very important question... which is how far their flights will typically be, so good points about considering the 90.

 

[hyflyt560]

With the 300, at max. gross takeoff weight, unless the temp is >40C and above 4000' PA, you really don't need to worry too much about reasonable climb gradients or Accel/stop numbers...not to say you don't want to pull out the charts. Additionally, below 10,000' you'll have to pull the power back to stay below 250 and you'll cruise at 290-295 TAS at FL280 (ours isn't RVSM due to a Chelton installation).

 

[vetteracer]

I work for an air ambulance operation, and we have 2 BE-B200's. The 300-350 would be nice, but unless you are part 91, (we are 135), the balanced field length issue is a problem for many of the small towns we service. You can get a 300-350 cheaper then a BE-B200, for the above reasons. The 200, no type, no balanced field length, makes it desirable for 135 operations. Before my time, we ran 90's and the guys hated them. Hot days, short fields, were a temp-out, no torque problem.

Just my .02

Mark

 

[IFollowRoads]

Go with the 90. That thing is impossible to get out of CG.

Don't quote him on that

 

[Trogdor]

Don't quote him on that

Well maybe not impossible, but you'd really have to try hard.

 

[jergar999]

You should really eliminate the A100 from the running. Really. It's all the speed of the 90 with the hourly cost of the 200, coupled with the performance of a Cessna 414.

As far as the 90 vs. 200 argument, the typical mission profile should settle that.

Someone on this forum once said that all the good turboprops out there were still being built and sold, and with the exception of Commanders I would have to agree.

 

[ultrarunner]

If I was in bad enough shape that I had to be airmailed in an ambulance, I'd be getting in a JET.

But if your patients don't care about speed, go cheap and get a 90.

 

[Say Again Over]

Wasn't there a big operator in Mesa, AZ that went to the PC-12 with double LIFE_PORTS?

 

[SpeedMetal]

if you are doing 500-1000 nm trips and want to get to altitude fast and cruise at 300 ktas consistently you would want to go with the 300. the only downside is it requires a type rating. if i remember right that will run you about 15k give or take. you can top it off with 3600 lbs of fuel and climb straight to the mid 30's and burn around 80 gph. 10,000 and below you can consistently do 250 kts. and not be pushed out of the way by the jet traffic. you can figure your direct operating cost is around $700-$800 respectively. i dont have much time in the 200's but they are a great airplane also. i was always told that if you take a 300 and fly it 2000 feet higher than the 200 you will be burning the same amount of fuel...... doing 50 more kts.
if you would like some more numbers feel free to PM me and i would be glad to help you out.

my $.02
Speed.

 

[Tinstaafl]

Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service has chosen to replace many of their 200s with PC12s. They say they're cheaper, have more room, cargo door as standard, faster & can lift at least as much.

OTH, someone I know swears by Conquest IIs for all the above reasons (except cargo door, I think)

 

[Say Again Over]

Conquest II is a piece of crap! IMO it's not too easy to fly either, if you thinks it's just a twin Cessna with turbine engines, think again.