Mutxamel-based Generalitat’s air medical program delivers life-saving care through SAMU, thanks to rapid response and swift transfers. It operates as a mobile intensive care unit that reaches the emergency scene by air, bringing critical care to patients faster than ground transport alone.
SAMU medical crews are seen boarding the medical helicopter at Mutxamel, prepared to respond to emergencies with expertise and calm precision. This is a team effort that blends medical expertise with aviation reliability to save lives in urgent scenarios.
Alejandro Belmonte, 43, arrives at his station with a smile, then leaves after a twelve-hour shift. The SAMU doctor specializes in air emergencies, driven by a genuine commitment to people in need of urgent medical attention. In most cases, these are serious incidents where rapid air transport to a hospital markedly increases survival chances. Belmonte, a physician, works with a nurse, a pilot, and a crew member as part of the SAMU Alpha 9 unit, a medical helicopter operated by the Generalitat from Mutxamel airport.
Air transportation
This aviation unit, dedicated to airborne medical transport, conducts roughly twenty missions each month. While its primary coverage is Alicante, it also serves the southern region of the Valencia community and has assisted neighboring provinces on occasion.
As of October 31, 184 flights had been completed for emergencies. Health data show 132 missions were for emergency medical transport and 52 involved rapid interhospital transfers to move patients promptly between facilities.
SAMU medical teams prepare at Mutxamel airport to respond to health emergencies, supported by air medical resources that extend the reach of life-saving care across the region.
The Emergency Information and Coordination Center (CICU) oversees the activation of two medical helicopters operating in Alicante and Castellón. These aircraft are part of the Security and Emergencies Authority but work under the Ministry of Health and employ SAMU medical staff. Generalitat also operates two additional drones based in Manises; while not exclusively medical, they are occasionally redirected for interhospital transport with SAMU teams on board.
The core mission remains a rapid response to life-threatening incidents where speed is critical, such as chest pain suggesting a heart attack. A swift air transfer markedly improves outcomes. This is treated as a fundamental rule, understood by all involved teams.
Two SAMU medics ride aboard a medicalized helicopter. The cabin is equipped with the same critical care capabilities found in land ambulances, including an incubator. Alejandro Belmonte notes that this is a mobile intensive care unit, with limited space compared to ground ambulances. Nevertheless, the medical crew stabilizes patients before and during flight to minimize risks and complications.
Since the emergency call is received, take-off typically takes about five minutes. Once the four air unit members and the patient are aboard, the flight time to reach the hospital rarely exceeds twenty minutes, depending on conditions and destination.
Altitude and patient care
Depending on the patient’s condition, the on-board physician guides the pilot to avoid health risks during flight, including abrupt maneuvers and rapid altitude changes. The helicopter operates from sunrise to sunset, with peak demand in the warmer months when events increase across Alicante Province. Injured individuals such as motorcyclists and cyclists in town and on coastal routes, children with choking problems, workers, mountaineers, and hikers have all benefited from air medical response this year, with the SAMU Alpha 9 unit regarded as a dependable guardian in emergencies.
In practice, care begins the moment the notification arrives. The medicalized helicopter is stocked with essential life-support equipment and monitors, ensuring rapid assessment and stabilization before and during transport. This approach reflects a broader strategy to shorten the time-to-treatment window in acute emergencies and improve survival rates for critical patients.
Across these missions, the healthcare teams emphasize readiness, professionalism, and clear coordination. The result is a robust air-based medical network that complements hospital-based care and brings timely treatment to the side of the patient when seconds matter most.