Metro Aviation to operate Arizona’s Guardian Air Transport

Guardian Air operates services from several bases across the state, in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Kingman, Polacca, Show Low, Tuba City and Winslow, and provides four distinct air ambulance services:

• Adult critical care transport, including rapid treatment of cardiac and stroke patients; intra-aortic balloon pump management, bariatric patients and trauma care
• Specialty pediatric transport, including ventilator management and specialty equipment
• Maternal transport and critical care to high-risk obstetric patients, and
• Neonatal and infant transport and critical care, operated 24/7 from Guardian’s Flagstaff base, utilizing temperature controlled isolettes and specialty medications, such as prostaglandins.

The service also operates a mixed fleet of seven Bell 407 helicopters and one Pilatus PC-12 fixed-wing aircraft.

Metro stated that it has ‘begun the process of training teams, technicians, medical crews and communications specialists’, while its ‘outreach team is meeting with Guardian Air’s leadership to review business strategies, billing practices, and to ensure Guardian is set up for success on day one’.

It will take over from previous operator, Air Methods.

“We’ve worked very hard to maintain as many of the program’s current pilots and maintenance technicians as possible to ensure continuity, with our collective effort always focused on safety,” said Metro Co-Owner Todd Stanberry. “It is truly refreshing to witness such genuine passion and drive to do the right thing for the patient.  This is displayed by every single person I have had the privilege of meeting at Guardian and NAH, and we have no doubt this is the start of a long and successful partnership.”  

Metro Aviation celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year.