A spatial assessment of eVTOLs for emergency medical transport in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

This study investigates the applicability of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) for emergency medical transport in the Brazilian Legal Amazon, a region characterized by vast territorial extension, limited road infrastructure, and restricted access to critical healthcare. The research estimates the population coverage potential of a selected eVTOL model and compares it to that of the Airbus H125, a conventional helicopter commonly used in aeromedical operations across Brazil. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analyses were performed based on operational ranges, identifying populated areas within reach of hospitals equipped with adult Intensive Care Unit beds. Data from the Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) and Brazil’s Ministry of Health supported the analysis. After filtering eVTOL models by technical feasibility and technological maturity, the Joby S4 was selected due to its extended range and load capacity. The findings indicate that while helicopters can cover a broad area from a few operational bases, eVTOLs require a larger number of strategically distributed bases to achieve similar population coverage. Our findings show that network expansion with eVTOLs is economically viable if the total operating costs per eVTOL base do not exceed roughly 3.6 times those of an equivalent helicopter base. These results support the consideration of eVTOLs as a complementary solution to improve access to emergency care in remote areas of the Amazon, contributing to the broader discussion on advanced air mobility (AAM) in complex territorial contexts.