First Certified Aircraft Delivered to West Michigan Air Care

Air Methods Corporation has received an FAA STC for an Emergency Medical Interior for the Eurocopter AS365N2 Helicopter. The AS365 is a twin engine, helicopter capable of transporting two patients and up to four medical attendants at speeds up to 172 mph. AS365 helicopters and variants are currently in operation with a number of commercial and public service agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard and Maryland State Police. The AS365 medical interior includes Air Methods Products Division Articulating Patient Loading System (APLS) and Modular Medical Cabinet (MMC). Both of these products have extensive operational history in a wide variety of medical aircraft.

The first AS365 aircraft with this certified interior was delivered to West Michigan Air Care located in Kalamazoo, Michigan. "West Michigan Air Care approached the completion of our new Dauphin with a design concept that called for safety, innovation, and flexibility. Air Methods turned these concepts into reality," according to Scott Kunkel, Project Coordinator for West Michigan Air Care. "The medical interior installed by Air Methods is an adaptable platform that will take West Michigan Air Care into the next generation of air medical transport."

In the first quarter of 2004, a second AS365 for West Michigan Air Care will be modified with this medical interior system.

Air Methods Corporation's Air Medical Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals in the world. The LifeNet division is the largest community-based provider of air medical services. The Products Division specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. The Company's fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features over 165 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

FMI: www.airmethods.com, www.aircare.org