Aviation News – Poland is investing €7.31 million (EUR) to convert four LOT Polish Airlines Embraer E195 aircraft into specialized medical evacuation planes to bolster international emergency response capabilities.
The major initiative stems from an agreement signed in July 2025 between LOT and the Government Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS) within the framework of the European civil protection mechanism, rescEU. Under this pact, the Polish national carrier committed to providing reliable emergency air transport infrastructure. To execute the project, RARS awarded the contract to Austria’s Air Ambulance Technology, tasking the firm with supplying advanced medical equipment and securing the necessary aviation certifications by April 30, 2027.
The fleet transformation affects four specific Embraer E195 aircraft registered as SP-LNA, SP-LNB, SP-LNC, and SP-LND. Under the terms of the agreement, three of these aircraft must remain continuously available for national and international missions, with at least one dedicated exclusively to medical evacuation duties at all times. This dual-use strategy ensures that critical health crises can be met with immediate airborne intervention without completely disrupting routine commercial operations.
The technical conversion introduces versatile modular cabin configurations designed for rapid deployment during emergencies. Depending on the medical requirements, the aircraft can be swiftly modified to transport up to six intensive care patients or up to sixteen patients on stretchers. This flexibility allows LOT to alternate seamlessly between high-acuity medical transport flights and standard commercial passenger services.
“The investment in our fleet’s medevac capabilities underlines our commitment to supporting European civil protection and readiness during health emergencies,” stated representatives involved in the agreement.
The completed conversions will significantly enhance Europe’s rapid-response medical infrastructure, providing a vital lifeline for critically ill patients across borders. Future deployments under rescEU will rely heavily on these modified jets to handle complex humanitarian missions and sudden health crises efficiently.
