Air Methods

In 1980, Roy Morgan founded Air Methods after a personal experience convinced him that properly equipped and staffed air medical service helicopters were a necessity.

Air Methods purchased CJ Systems Aviation Group, a leading provider of aeromedical transport, in October 2007.[5]

In 2011, Air Methods acquired Omniflight Helicopters, Inc., operating it as a wholly owned subsidiary. Omniflight Helicopters consisted of over 100 helicopters.[6]

In July 2011, Air Methods (Air Methods International, Ltd.) entered into a joint venture agreement with Basari Holding, AS and Anka Aerospace & Defense, LLC to form Helistar, AS. The joint venture company is headquartered in Ankara, Turkey.

In October 2012, Air Methods opened its state-of-the-art technologically advanced training center in Aurora, Colorado. Located near the corporate office, the 14,000-square-foot facility has simulation areas, learning classrooms and office space. Also in 2012, the company diversified into helicopter tourism.

In 2016, Air Methods acquired Tri-State Care Flight.[7]

In 2017, Air Methods was purchased by American Securities LLC.[3]

Air Methods provides services through three basic programs: Community-Based Service model (CBS), Hospital-Based Service model (HBS)[8] and Alternative-Delivery Model (ADM).[9] Under all three programs, Air Methods transports persons requiring intensive medical care from either the scene of an accident or general care hospitals, to trauma centers or tertiary care centers. Air Methods employees provide medical care to patients en route.

A Bell 412 operated by Mercy Air, a subsidiary of Air Methods

Air Methods' fleet of helicopters includes:

• Eurocopter AS350 Ecureuil[18][19]
• Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin[18][19]
• Eurocopter EC130[18][19]
• Eurocopter EC135[18][19]
• Eurocopter EC145[18][19] (including MBB/Kawasaki BK 117, the previous version)
• Bell 206[18][19] JetRanger and Bell 407[18][19]
• Bell 222[18][19] and Bell 430[18][19]
• Bell 412[19]
• Bell 429[18][19]
• AgustaWestland AW109[18][19]
• AgustaWestland AW119 Koala[18][19]
• MD Helicopters MD 902[18][19]

Fixed-wing craft owned and/or operated through Air Methods:

• Beechcraft King Air[18] 100[19]
• Beechcraft Super King Air 200[19]
• Pilatus PC-12[18][19]
• Cessna 208 Caravan
• Learjet 35[19]

• In January 2005, an Air Methods helicopter crashed in Washington, D.C., resulting in two dead and one injured, and another crashed in Mississippi, killing one.[20]
• On June 29, 2008, a Bell 407 medical helicopter operated by Air Methods collided with another medical helicopter in Arizona, killing all seven who were aboard both aircraft. Another Air Methods helicopter crashed in May in Wisconsin soon after taking off. Three people were killed in that accident: the pilot, flight doctor and flight nurse.[21]
• On August 26, 2011 four people (three crew members and one patient) were killed when a LifeNet Eurocopter AS350 based at Rosecrans Airport and connected to Heartland Hospital in St. Joseph, Missouri crashed near Liberty, Missouri. Initial crash reports indicated it had run out of fuel. The helicopter had traveled 45 miles from St. Joseph to Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Missouri to pick up a patient. It did not refuel before traveling another 70 miles en route to its intended destination at Liberty Hospital. It was reported to be within a mile of landing for fuel at Midwest National Air Center in Mosby, Missouri (near Liberty) when it crashed.[22][23] In 2013 the NTSB received information indicating that texting may have been a contributing cause, making it the first time texting had been found to occur during a fatal air accident.[24]
• On July 3, 2015, a Eurocopter AS350B3 medical helicopter operated by Air Methods crashed into a parking lot in Frisco, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured, and the two flight nurses on board were seriously injured. The helicopter was destroyed by post-crash fire.[25]
• On April 26, 2018, an Air Methods Corp Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 (N127LN), apparently operating on behalf of Ascension Wisconsin Spirit Medical Transport, was destroyed when it crashed near Hazelhurst, Wisconsin towards the end of a flight from Madison to Woodruff, Wisconsin. All three persons on board died in the crash.[26]

• ARCH Air Medical Service

• Air Methods official site