Adds Dedicated Fixed-Wing Aircraft To Fleet In Multiple Locations

Guardian Flight has recently strengthened the reach and focus of its air medical transport footprints in Alaska, Hawaii, and Utah with additional dedicated and medically equipped fixed-wing aircraft. Guardian Flight Alaska added a Super King Air B200 at Deadhorse Airport to serve the North Slope oil industry and Native Alaska communities including Prudhoe Bay, Utqiagvik and Kuparuk.

 
Hawaii Life Flight, a Guardian Flight operation, based a King Air C90 in Maui to serve Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku and as a backup for the Big Island and the entire island state. Guardian Flight added a King Air C90 to the Eagle Air Med base in Blanding, Utah to serve company partner Blue Mountain Hospital and provide backup support to San Juan Hospital in Monticello, Utah and Southwest Health System in Cortez, Colorado.

"These additional fixed-wing medical transport investments in Alaska, Hawaii and Utah have fortified Guardian Flight's commitment to serving very rural areas based on the need and requests from our medical partners and patient communities," said Guardian Flight President Fred Buttrell, who also serves as CEO of Guardian Flight's parent company, Air Medical Group Holdings Company (AMGH). "Guardian Flight continues to build a solid record of growing its programs in direct response to expanding demand in rural areas with diverse populations."

Guardian Flight Alaska already operates a fleet of 10 Beechcraft King Air B200s and a Cessna Caravan. Guardian Flight Alaska employs more than 50 pilots for its Alaska operations, and a highly qualified medical staff consisting of critical care certified flight nurses and critical care certified flight paramedics. Guardian Flight Alaska is upgrading its jet fleet of smaller Learjets and Beechjets with five more modern and efficient Learjet 45s.

Other Hawaii Life Flight air medical transport locations with King Air fixed-wing aircraft, include Honolulu, Oahu; Hilo, Big Island, Lihue, Kauai; Kona, Big Island; Waimea, Big Island; and Kaunakakai, Molokai. In addition to its aircraft operations in Honolulu, Hawaii Life Flight operations include a 24-hour communications center, aircraft maintenance and testing, membership program fulfillment, and business development and administration. Hawaii Life Flight partners with AMR's ground ambulance operations throughout the islands.

Eagle Air Med has seven other fixed-wing aircraft, with two aircraft serving Chinle, Arizona, an aircraft serving Kayenta, Arizona, one aircraft supporting Gallup, New Mexico, two aircraft flying from Del Norte and Alamosa, Colorado, and one serving Rosebud, South Dakota.

Guardian Flight is an AMGH company. It operates a fleet of approximately 85 fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft dedicated to air medical flights in the Upper Midwest, Mountain West, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii. Guardian Flight has more than 800 professional staff, including clinical providers, pilots, mechanics, trained communicators, and support staff.  
 
Guardian Flight companies include Eagle Air Med, serving parts of Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Colorado, and Utah; Hawaii Life Flight in Hawaii and Guardian Flight in Alaska and Wyoming. Companies also include Gallup Med Flight and MedStar in New Mexico, and Valley Med Flight in North Dakota, Michigan, Montana, and Minnesota; Alaska Regional LifeFlight in Alaska, MoutainStar AirCare operating in Utah, and North Central Air Care in northern Ohio, and AeroCare Medical Transport serving in Arizona and New Mexico.

(Source: Guardian Flight news release)

FMI: www.guardianflight.com