This case describes the potential introduction of a new helicopter operation named “Smart Launch” at the leading non-profit air ambulance of Boston MedFlight, with the goal of decreasing the estimated arrival time of transports and thereby improving patient outcomes. The case first provides a detailed background for how patient requests turn into successful transports, and thereafter outlines the estimated operational, financial and social impact of implementing this new operation. This is an excellent case for leveraging real transport data and management’s questions, with the challenge to determine if, how, and “what needs to be true?” to successfully unlock the new Smart Launch operation. 

Matthew Kriegsman, editor, is a senior program manager at Amazon, where he leads strategic projects and network design for Amazon Air’s network planning team. Prior to this role, he worked in the air ambulance sector, first as a senior strategy and operations analyst at Boston MedFlight, and thereafter as a senior analyst in strategy and analytics at Atrium Health’s MedCenter Air. Matthew earned a BA summa cum laude/ Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University, a JD/LLM from Cardozo School of Law, and an MBA from Brandeis University with mentorship and classroom instruction from MIT’s International Center for Air Transportation. Matthew is a licensed private pilot, drone pilot, and attorney.