Medical Equipment

Air New Zealand aims to provide safe and comfortable travel, for passengers with medical conditions requiring the use of special medical equipment.

Air New Zealand has some special equipment that can be installed on its aircraft for customers' use. In other cases the customer will need to provide the required equipment. Equipment requiring an electrical outlet must be fitted with a US plug, please note that adapters can not be used onboard.

Customer-Owned Medical Equipment

Connecting Medical Devices to Aircraft power

Oxygen

Stretchers

Nebulisers

Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP)

Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) / Respirator / Ventilator

Non-Emergency Oxygen Concentrators on International Flights


Customer-Owned Medical Equipment

Any equipment provided by the customer or outside agency will need an 'aircraft-type approved' certificate, or be checked and approved by Air New Zealand Engineering prior to use, to ensure that the equipment will not interfere with the safety and operation of the aircraft.

Please include details of the equipment on the MEDA form and ask your travel agent to forward this to Air New Zealand.

Please note that despite Air New Zealand's approval of a device, the airline cannot be held responsible for any subsequent breakdown or operational failure of any medical equipment owned, supplied and used by customers on its aircraft.


Connecting Medical Devices to Aircraft Power

Due to the level of reliability required when using medical equipment, in-seat PC power is not approved for medical devices. Medical outlets are available for approved medical devices with prior notice. These outlets run off a separate power supply to the in-seat PC power.
 
Air New Zealand engineering assessment is required for all medical devices that connect to aircraft medical power outlets.
 
In order to complete the assessment written advice from the manufacturer or local agent is required clearly stating that the manufacturer approves the use of the equipment with a power supply of 115 volts at 400 hertz. The assessment process requires a minimum of 2 weeks to complete.
 
Aircraft power supply is 115 volts at 400 hertz, modern personal electronic devices are usually designed to operate on household domestic power supplies of either:
 
  • 115 volts at 50 hertz frequency (USA) or,
  • 230 volts at 60 hertz frequency (UK, NZ, Australia)
The instructions provided with your equipment will usually specify which power supply it can operate on.
 

Unless your device has been tested by the manufacturer as suitable for use with 115 volts at 400 hertz then we cannot authorise it’s use for connection with aircraft power, even if it has been approved for use by another airline.

Oxygen

All passengers requiring oxygen (this includes use of your own POC) need to:

  • Provide at least 72 hours notice that they require oxygen and
  • Check in one hour prior to the final check in time
  • Complete a MEDA form which specifies the litres-per-minute flow rate required. Your physician will specify this and then sign the MEDA form. Once signed, it should be faxed to the number on the MEDA form. The standard flow rate provided by Air New Zealand is 2lt/min however we will endeavour to supply the flow rate you require.

For passengers travelling domestically within New Zealand, we will refer you to an authorised oxygen provider wherever possible. The provider will supply you with the necessary oxygen for the flight and any waiting time on the ground.

For passengers travelling internationally, Air New Zealand will provide airline oxygen at an additional cost whilst you are onboard the flight.

If you are travelling both internationally and domestically within New Zealand as part of the same journey on the same day, Air New Zealand will provide the oxygen at an additional cost from either portable cylinders or a specially designed aircraft oxygen concentrator. Please note that the oxygen concentrators deliver pulsed oxygen rather than continuous flow. Your doctor will be asked to indicate if that is not appropriate for your medical condition.

For safety reasons, private and hospital compressed-gas cylinders may not be carried or used on board Air New Zealand aircraft unless packaged as Dangerous Goods.

While Air New Zealand will make every effort to have oxygen available on the flight that you request it may not be possible to fulfil the request. In these instances Air New Zealand reserves the right to request that you travel on a flight where oxygen can be supplied.

Please note that Air New Zealand will only supply oxygen in flight. If oxygen is required on the ground (including during transit) it is the passengers responsibility to arrange supply.

Stretchers

Aircraft stretchers are available on Air New Zealand Boeing 747, 767, 777 and Airbus A320 aircraft for use on international flights. There are no stretcher facilities available on Air New Zealand domestic services or international flights operated by Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

A minimum of 48 hours notice and medical clearance is required, and a fully qualified medical escort must travel with the passenger. Please advise Air New Zealand the details of the accompanying medical staff on the MEDA form.

Special fares apply, depending on the space required. Other costs, including ambulance or airport handling charges are the responsibility of the customer or your booking agent.

If oxygen or other medical equipment is required, this needs to be approved by Air New Zealand for use inflight.

While Air New Zealand will make every effort to have a stretcher available on the flight that you request it may not be possible to fulfil the request. In these instances Air New Zealand reserves the right to request that you travel on a flight where a stretcher can be supplied or recommend the use of an air ambulance service.

Nebulisers

Passengers who use a nebuliser will be relieved to know that these can be used on board Air New Zealand aircraft. However you do need to follow these safety and operational requirements:

  • The make and model of your nebuliser must be approved by Air New Zealand
  • Please include details of the device on the MEDA form
  • As there is no onboard facility for operating electric nebulisers, you will need to use a hand-held battery device or a spacer
  • While air travel does not usually affect nebulising equipment, Air New Zealand cannot be held responsible for any breakdown or other operational failure of your equipment

Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP)

Sleep apnoea, a disorder where the upper airways obstruct during sleep, is not normally life threatening, and the condition can be alleviated with the use of a Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) pump.

If you wish to use your CPAP device during the flight it must meet the following requirements:

  • It must be an Air New Zealand approved model or meet FAA approval and have a manufactures label that indicates it meets those requirements
  • The device must be able to be stowed in the cabin in a way that meets safety and security regulations. Maximum combined dimensions are: (maximum weight of 7kg (15lbs) and maximum total dimensions (length + width + height) of 115cm (45"))
  • You must provide us with a minimum of 48 hours notice of your intention to use your device if you wish to use aircraft power and check in 1 hour prior to general check in
  • Please note that aircraft power is not available on domestic flights or on 737 aircraft internationally
Model Approved
for use
with battery power		 Approved
for use with aircraft medical power		 Approved
for use
with in seat power
ResMed / Sullivan
APD 2, 2e, 2s, III (3), IIId (3), AutoSet T, S6 Elite, S6 Liteweight, V, V Plus, V Elite Tick. Tick. Cross.
ResMed
S7 AutoSet Spirit, AutoSet Spirit,
S7 Lightweight, S7 Elite,
S8 AutoSet Spirit, S8 AutoSet Vantage,
S8 AutoSet II (2), S8 AutoSet Spirit II (2),
S8 Elite, S8 Elite II (2), S8 Autoscore,
S8 Auto score II (2), S8 Classic,
S8 Escape, S8 Lightweight, S9,
S9 Elite, VPAP III (3), VPAP III (3) ST		 Tick. Tick. Cross.
Fisher & Paykel - HC 200 Series
HC 232, HC 233, HC 234, HC 235, HC 236, HC 237, HC 238, HC 239, HC 254 Tick. Tick. Cross.
Fisher & Paykel - HC 600 Series
HC 602, HC 604, HC 608, Icon Premo, Icon Auto, Icon Novo Tick. Tick. Cross.
Respironics
Remstar Auto A -flex,
Remstar Plus C-Flex,
Remstar Pro C-Flex +		 Tick. Cross. Cross.
DeVilbiss Healthcare
DV5 Series Tick. Cross. Cross.


Due to the level of reliability required when using medical equipment, in-seat PC power is not approved for medical devices. Medical outlets are available for approved medical devices with prior notice. These outlets run off a separate power supply to the in-seat PC power.

Should your own CPAP device not meet these requirements we recommend hiring a device for the period of your travels to ensure that you are able to be comfortable for your journey.

Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) / Respirator / Ventilator

If you wish to use your Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) / Respirator / Ventilator device during the flight medical clearance is required and it must meet the following requirements:

  • It must be an approved model from the list below
  • The device must be able to be stowed in the cabin in a way that meets safety and security regulations. Maximum combined dimensions are: (maximum weight of 7kg (15lbs) and maximum total dimensions (length + width + height) of 115cm (45")
  • You must provide us with a minimum of 48 hours notice of your intention to use your device if you wish to use aircraft power and check in 1 hour prior to general check in
  • Please note that aircraft power is not available on domestic flights or on 737 aircraft internationally
Device Approved
for use
with battery power		 Approved
for use with aircraft medical power		 Approved
for use
with in seat power
AirSep Corporation's FreeStyle Tick. Tick. Cross.
AirSep Corporation's LifeStyle Tick. Tick. Cross.
Inogen, Inc.'s Inogen One (also known as IO 100 or IS 100) Tick. Tick. Cross.
Invacare Corporation's XPO2 Tick. Cross. Cross.
Delphi Medical Systems' RS-00400 Tick. Cross. Cross.
SeQual Technologies' Eclipse Tick. Cross. Cross.
Repironics Inc.'s EverGo Tick. Cross. Cross.
International Biophysics Tick. Cross. Cross.
Oxlife Independence Tick. Cross. Cross.
Inogen Inc's Inogen One G2v (also know as IO 200 or IS 200) Tick. Cross. Cross.
Devilbiss IGo Tick. Cross. Cross.
Invacare Corporation's SOLO2 Tick. Cross. Cross.


Due to the level of reliability required when using medical equipment, in-seat PC power is not approved for medical devices. Medical outlets are available for approved medical devices with prior notice. These outlets run off a separate power supply to the in-seat PC power.

Should your own Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) / Respirator / Ventilator device not meet these requirements we recommend hiring a device for the period of your travels to ensure that you are able to be comfortable for your journey.

Non-emergency Oxygen Concentrators on International Flights

Non-emergency oxygen for Air New Zealand international customers is normally provided using an "Airsep Lifestyle" oxygen concentrator, and your doctor will be asked to indicate to us that this will be suitable for your flight on the medical certificate they provide.

This is an electrically powered pump unit. It uses aircraft power to extract oxygen from the internal air, and produces 93% oxygen. The oxygen is delivered to you using either a disposable medical-type mask known as a Hudson mask, or by lightweight nasal prongs (which allow you to continue talking and eating while on oxygen).

The device does not deliver oxygen continuously, but instead uses a "pulse-dose" delivery system: it senses you breathing in and electronically triggers oxygen to be delivered for the first part of each breath; this is the part of the breath which is the most important for maintaining oxygen levels in your lungs. This type of oxygen delivery is more than adequate for most stable conditions requiring extra oxygen to compensate for the effects of altitude. If you are unfamiliar with the use of a pulse-dose concentrator, or are unsure whether this will be adequate for your needs, we suggest you discuss it with your doctor.

You may have seen bottles used on Air New Zealand domestic services; these do not have enough capacity for our international services. In rare cases of severe conditions requiring bottled oxygen, we can arrange for a large bottle to be installed, but this occupies a number of seat spaces, has limited availability, and carries a much greater cost.

Your doctor is welcome to contact the Air New Zealand medical unit with any queries about in-flight oxygen; please contact (09) 256 3924 or for calls outside of New Zealand + 64 (09) 256 3924.

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