Omniflight Helicopters Inc., a leading national provider of air medical services, acquired Airlink Inc. of Idaho Falls on Oct. 6.
Airlink provides aviation services for Air Idaho Rescue, the air medical program operated by Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Concurrent with the acquisition, Omniflight converted the Air Idaho Rescue program to an Omniflight-operated community-based model, according to a release. As such, Omniflight will provide air medical transport services to communities in eastern Idaho, southwestern Montana and western Wyoming through this program, complementing efforts of local emergency medical services teams, fire and rescue departments, the National Park Service, local authorities and officials. Air Idaho Rescue, established in 1990, meets the needs of patients across eastern Idaho, northwest Wyoming and southwest Montana. It is Commission of Air Medical Transport Services accredited. AIR operates an Agusta A109K2, a premier mountain rescue helicopter. The A109K2 offers unprecedented power, speed, and safety, particularly at high altitudes. AIR is the first North American operator of the A109K2, a twin engine; turbine powered helicopter that is IFR equipped. Lee McCammon, vice president of Omniflight’s western region, said, “The acquisition of AIR allows us to extend the support of a national leader such as Omniflight to the Idaho Falls area.” AIR employees will continue to stay on with Omniflight so as not to interrupt service, care or support to the local community.
8 Comments
This is not great for the community. Prices will increase and the mentality of flying everythng will proliferate in Idaho. With the safety record of the air medical industry, this only means that there will be better chances for an incident because the for profit corporation will need to show profit.
Comment By ex flyguy Wednesday, October 8, 2008 @ 1:04 PM
This is not a good thing for the good people of Idaho. This is only good for Omniflight which all Omniflight cares about.
Comment By one_Idahoan Thursday, October 9, 2008 @ 12:10 AM
The executives at Omniflight are just trying to keep up with Air Methods by buying up everything in sight. Omniflight is run by a bunch of greedy non-safety conscious individuals that will more than likely contribute to the increase in air medical accidents in the years to come. Omniflight still largely flies without helmets, NVGs and collision avoidance equipment in the majority of their aircraft.
Comment By flightmedic296 Thursday, October 9, 2008 @ 11:11 PM
I agree 296! Omniflight was 'going under' last I heard by a reliable source,,, They are no match to AirMethods INTERNATIONAL, Inc! I agree, they are not very desireable! Have a good one! Fly Safe!
Comment By Flight6801 Monday, October 13, 2008 @ 8:47 PM
souds to me like AIR was going under and Omniflight took over.. and last i checked Air Methods was a for profit company and operates the same as OmniFlight and the others
Comment By Don Corleone Tuesday, October 14, 2008 @ 2:24 PM
I have worked with OmniFlight as a medic and can say that as far as safety goes, well i would fly with them any day. There safety standards match if not exceed others.
Comment By jr Thursday, October 16, 2008 @ 12:15 AM
to clarify a couple of things, Airlink was NOT going under but the owners/pilots are looking to retire sometime in the future and were looking to sell. Another thing, all "for profit" companies are not created equal and to compare Air Methods with Omniflight is like comparing an apple to an over ripe rotten banana that you'd rather die before you would possibly eat it. I pray for the safety of all those that Omniflight has in their grips, for they may not know what a "rotten" thing they are involved in, and lets hope they can avoid any kind of a similar event to when Omniflight "aquired" Southwest Medevac and they very soon thereafter lost a great flight crew! To those that gave the ultimate sacrifise on 8/5/07 our love and gratitude!
Comment By one_Idahoan Saturday, October 18, 2008 @ 1:13 AM
to clarify a couple of things, Airlink was NOT going under but the owners/pilots are looking to retire sometime in the future and were looking to sell. Another thing, all "for profit" companies are not created equal and to compare Air Methods with Omniflight is like comparing an apple to an over ripe rotten banana that you'd rather die before you would possibly eat it. I pray for the safety of all those that Omniflight has in their grips, for they may not know what a "rotten" thing they are involved in, and lets hope they can avoid any kind of a similar event to when Omniflight "aquired" Southwest Medevac and they very soon thereafter lost a great flight crew! To those that gave the ultimate sacrifise on 8/5/07 our love and gratitude!
Comment By one_Idahoan Saturday, October 18, 2008 @ 1:13 AM
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