Program History
The LifeNet Air flight program is the oldest air ambulance service program in the state of Arkansas. The flight program, which began in 1983 as St. Michael's AirLife, has now flown over 11,000 accident free medical missions.
Read more about the beginnings of LifeNet's ambulance services.
The flight program employs a Bell 407 Helicopter, which has the potential to travel at speeds up to 140 knots or 162.4 miles per hour.
The flight program averages over 30 flights per month. During the course of a month, the flight program will do interhospital (60%) and on-scene (40%) flights. The Bell 407 will travel up to 165 miles for interhospital transfers and up to 70 miles for on-scene flights.
The LifeNet Air Flight Team is made up of a Flight Nurse and a Flight Paramedic.
Qualifications required for the Flight Nurse are:
- Licensed Registered Nurse
- Dual EMS Certification (Texas & Arkansas) as a EMT or Paramedic
- Over to 2 years of Critical Care experience
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider
- Neonatal Advanced Life Support Provider
- International Trauma Life Support
Qualifications required for the Flight Paramedic are:
- Dual EMS Certification (Texas & Arkansas) as a Paramedic
- Nationally Registered as a Paramedic
- Over 2 years of Ground Ambulance experience
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Provider
- Neonatal Advanced Life Support Provider
- International Trauma Life Support
- Many are also Critical Care certified Paramedics (CCEMTP)
LifeNet's air program operates in conjunction with Air Methods. Please note that while LifeNet's air medical program uses Air Methods
for Part 135 services, LifeNet is not associated with the Air Methods community based program called Life Net. LifeNet EMS also
offers ground ambulance services, Critical Care Ground Transports as well as highly trained dispatch and communication services.
Air Methods Corporation was originally incorporated in 1982 and now serves as one of the largest providers of aeromedical
emergency transport services and systems.
Air Methods Corporation was originally incorporated in 1982 and now serves as one of the largest providers of aeromedical emergency transport
services and systems. Air Methods Corporation (NASDAQ: AIRM) is the nation’s largest provider of air medical emergency transport services and
systems. The company is dedicated exclusively to air medical transport, focusing on the quality of care to patients, and safety in aviation
operations.
With 29 years of experience, the company transports more than 98,000 patients annually who require intensive medical care
from either the scene of an accident or general care hospitals to highly skilled trauma centers or tertiary care centers.
Air Methods operates a fleet of 300 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft at 249 bases in 42 states, and is headquartered in Englewood, Col.
Air Methods employs hundreds of pilots, Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanics and serves as an F.A.A. Certified Repair Station and a
Bell Helicopter Service Center.