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EVAQ: Quebec's air medical evacuations

EVAQ evacuates about 2,600 people a year (July 2026). Hospital plane, shuttle flights and helicopter since June 15, 2026: what official sources say.

October 27, 2026 · By the Agent Santé editorial team · Lire en français

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EVAQ, the Programme d'évacuations aéromédicales du Québec (Quebec's air medical evacuation program), evacuates about 2,600 people a year in emergencies, according to the Service aérien gouvernemental page on Québec.ca updated July 13, 2026. This program links remote regions to the hospitals of Quebec City and Montreal by hospital plane, shuttle flight and, since June 15, 2026, by helicopter. This text applies to nurses and to all network staff who prepare a transfer. For ground transport and its cost, see the ambulance cost page of Agent Ambulancier. In an emergency, call 911.

What EVAQ is

The guide of Quebec's health ministry (updated July 31, 2025) describes EVAQ as a transport service between facilities. It is for people hospitalized in a remote region who need specialized care offered in Quebec City or Montreal. The program has existed for more than 40 years.

Official pages write ÉVAQ or EVAQ. The program reports to the CHU de Québec-Université Laval for the clinical side. The Service aérien gouvernemental, attached to the Ministère des Transports, runs the flight operations.

Hospital plane and shuttle flights

The program has two types of flights.

The hospital plane, available at all times, with a physician on board
Two multi-patient shuttles for non-urgent situations, each with two nursing resources

For a shuttle, the facility sends a transport request to EVAQ. When a ground transfer exceeds 250 kilometres, air transport is given priority if it is available, according to the ministry's guide.

The Service aérien gouvernemental page gives two figures. About 2,600 people benefit from evacuations each year. About 5,000 people use the shuttle. The same page counts about 40 pilots, about a dozen flight attendants and about a dozen flight regulators.

The helicopter since June 2026

A Government of Québec news release dated June 17, 2026 announces that helicopter missions began on June 15 in the Capitale-Nationale. The service covers regions located between 75 and 250 kilometres from the major centres, when the helicopter is faster than the ambulance.

Base	In service	Regions served
Near Jean-Lesage International Airport	June 15, 2026	Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches, Bas-Saint-Laurent, then Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean since the end of summer 2026
Mirabel Airport	October 2026	Lanaudière and Laurentides, then Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec and Estrie since October 19, 2026

The Service aérien gouvernemental page speaks of three Bell 412 helicopters spread over two bases. The news release states that the service first runs 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Transfers are overseen by the Centre de coordination provincial des transports aéromédicaux (the provincial air medical transport coordination centre), with the treating team.

The ministry also published an addendum on parental accompaniment during helicopter medical transports. Its page shows a last modification on August 24, 2026.

Who is on board

EVAQ's on-board teams are made up of physicians and nurses. The Québec.ca page on the emergency air medical service states that specialized clinical staff (physician, nurse) are on board. The ministry's guide specifies that the hospital plane's nurses are accompanied by the escort physician. The shuttle's nurses refer to the regulating physician at the coordination centre. On the helicopter, a specialized clinical team from the EVAQ program maintains critical care, according to the October 19, 2026 news release.

The nursing staff of the coordination centre notifies the receiving facility of the arrival of a patient transferred by EVAQ, according to the guide. For the duration of the transport, responsibility rests with EVAQ.

Ambulance, helicopter or plane: distance decides

The Québec.ca page sets the means of transport according to the distance between the departure facility and the specialized centre.

From 0 to 75 km: ambulance transport
From 75 to 250 km: helicopter, when it is faster than the ambulance or the hospital plane
Beyond 250 km: hospital plane or shuttle flight

Requests are assessed by a specialized clinical team of the Centre de coordination provincial des transports aéromédicaux, with the treating team. None of the official pages read describes the ambulance trip before or after a flight.

Who pays

The Québec.ca page on the cost of ambulance transport (updated August 20, 2024) states that, for a person transported between two facilities of the health and social services network, the cost is covered by the two facilities. That page does not mention air transport. No official page read gives a fee for an EVAQ flight. This text is not legal advice.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Programme d'évacuations aéromédicales du Québec (EVAQ)?

It is a transport service between facilities, offered for more than 40 years to people hospitalized in a remote region. It reports to the CHU de Québec-Université Laval for the clinical side. The Service aérien gouvernemental runs the planes and helicopters.

What is a medical evacuation?

Québec.ca describes medical evacuations as air transports for urgent cases, by plane or helicopter. They are supplemented by scheduled shuttle flights that return stabilized patients to their region. In EVAQ, the departure and the arrival are health facilities.

Are ambulances free in Quebec?

No. According to Québec.ca, taking charge of a patient costs $125 and each kilometre travelled $1.75. The government pays the full amount in some cases, for example for a person transported between two facilities or for a person aged 65 or over with the approval of the responsible physician. The details are in our page on ambulance cost.

Who makes the transport request to EVAQ?

The pages read describe a request made by the health facility. For a shuttle, it sends a transport request to EVAQ. No page read describes a request made by an individual.

Where are the EVAQ helicopter bases?

A first base is near Jean-Lesage International Airport in Quebec City, since June 15, 2026. The second, at Mirabel Airport, is operational according to a Government of Québec news release of October 19, 2026. It serves Lanaudière, the Laurentides and, since October 19, Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec and Estrie.

Are there paramedics on board EVAQ flights?

No. According to Québec.ca and the ministry of Health's guide, on-board teams are made up of physicians and nurses. Ambulance transport covers trips of less than 75 km between the departure facility and the specialized centre.

How many people does EVAQ transport each year?

About 2,600 people benefit from evacuations each year and about 5,000 use the shuttle, according to the Service aérien gouvernemental page updated July 13, 2026.

Can a parent accompany a child transported by helicopter?

The ministry published an addendum to the Cadre de référence sur l'accompagnement parental for EVAQ's helicopter medical transports. It aims to meet families' expectations while ensuring everyone's safety. The specific rules are in that document.