Norway has ten bases for helicopters manned by aeromedical doctors, five for fixed-wing aircraft, and five for search-and-rescue helicopters. In 1992 there were 4,197 helicopter missions and 4,078 patients were transported by plane, figures representing 20 and 30 per cent increases, respectively, as compared with 1988. In addition, the teams used motor transport to cater to 1,699 patients at locations close to the helicopter bases. Utilisation of aero-medical services was correlated to geographic availability, and can be seen as compensating for the uneven distribution of advanced emergency medical resources.