Specialist neonatologist with European Air Ambulance Dr Jean Bottu explained: “Surprisingly, there are few systems to safely secure a newborn in an incubator, and medical teams are often forced to improvise - using mattresses or straps that aren’t really suitable for premature babies and that limit access, making it harder for medics to feed, change or administer treatment.

“The ‘Traveller’ system, designed by ConceptNatal to fit our transport incubator, is a cocoon that attaches to the interior with adjustable straps, allowing us to wrap the baby in a kind of secured and stable shell, protected from turbulence during the flight.”

The quilted cocoon absorbs vibrations and allows easy access to the tiny patient. It has adjustable head and foot panels, is machine washable and come in three sizes to suit babies weighing between 500g and 4000g.

It is the latest addition to EAA’s state-of-the-art equipment list, that allows medics to replicate as closely as possible a neonatal intensive care unit, with travel incubators constantly pre-heated and ready to be loaded onto one of its six dedicated air ambulance aircraft for missions worldwide.

Patrick Schomaker, Director Sales & Marketing at EAA said: “We are always looking to improve, and we put particular emphasis on our neonatal and paediatric aeromedical transport services. By investing further in this area, we can offer the very best care in the air to these tiny passengers.”