Med-Trans adds second Kite Flight helicopter for critical care transfers

Med-Trans Corporation and Covenant Health have introduced a second helicopter to their Kite Flight air medical program, expanding critical care transport capacity across west Texas and eastern New Mexico.

The additional aircraft, based in Lubbock, Texas, entered service on 21 October and will support the transfer of critically ill patients requiring specialist treatment, with particular emphasis on high-risk maternity cases, newborns, and children.

The expansion follows growing demand for maternal, neonatal, and pediatric transport services across the region, where patients in rural communities may face lengthy journeys to hospitals equipped to provide advanced care.

Operating alongside the existing Kite Flight helicopter, the second aircraft will provide additional capacity during periods of high demand and maintain transport availability when the other helicopter is assigned to a mission or undergoing maintenance.

The program’s helicopters are equipped to accommodate specialist medical equipment, including neonatal incubators, while clinical crews receive dedicated training to manage maternal and neonatal patients during flight.

Bobby Sanchez, Regional Director for Global Medical Response, said: “For patients in rural areas, distance can be a significant barrier to care. This expansion gives the region greater transport capacity and another pathway to advanced care when every moment matters.”

Med-Trans, a subsidiary of Global Medical Response, operates air medical services in partnership with hospitals and emergency medical providers across the USA.

Further reading: Last year, Cincinnati Children’s expanded access to specialist neonatal and pediatric care through a dedicated helicopter transport service operated in partnership with Air Methods.