US air ambulances join forces

The alliance formalizes a long-standing collaborative relationship between the two organizations. Life Flight Network and Life Link III are similarly structured air medical consortiums, with each program utilizing similar onboard medical equipment and operating many of the same aircraft models. Together they have shared resources and expertise over the years.

Executive leadership from both organizations will now meet routinely, establishing benchmarks and metrics that promote shared learning and raise the bar on industry standards.

“With shared interests, challenges, and values, we believe working together will give both organizations a greater voice in the air medical industry, as well as strengthen not-for-profit air medical programs at large” said Life Flight Network interim CEO Ben Clayton. “While both programs remain independent, our employees, patients, customers and the communities we serve will benefit from the collective expertise and resources of our programs.”

Sharing a commitment to safety cultures

“Life Link III and Life Flight Network are respected, industry-leading programs who share an unwavering commitment to strong cultures of safety and exceedingly high excellence in patient care,” added Josh Howell, Life Link III’s CEO.

Headquartered in Aurora, Oregon, Life Flight Network operates 25 bases across Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and Montana. Life Link III operates 10 bases across Minnesota and Wisconsin and is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. Both organizations have been honored as Program of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services, with Life Link III being honored in 2017 and Life Flight Network in 2009 and 2021.

In November, Life Flight Network signed a purchase agreement for 12 Bell 407GXi aircraft with Bell Textron.