Vanderbilt LifeFlight brings air operations in-house
The Tennessee-based air ambulance program will take over dispatching duties, and will transition to a new aviation provider
Vanderbilt LifeFlight, a US-based air ambulance program operated by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center healthcare system, has announced that it will bring its operations in-house.
The program, which provides air ambulance services to the US state of Tennessee, was previously operated by Air Methods, but will now be overseen more closely by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in collaboration with its new aviation partner, Metro Aviation.
Following the transition, dispatching will also now be under the purview of Vanderbilt LifeFlight. Medical crew will continue to be supplied by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Metro Aviation has experience working with the program, providing Part 135 aviation services to Vanderbilt LifeFlight.
The transition will begin this month, with the change being done in phases across the program’s nine bases, with completion expected by June 2026.
Vanderbilt LifeFlight stated that the change reflects its goal of “owning all aspects of the flight program”.
“We are very excited about this transition and what it means for both the communities we serve and the future success of Vanderbilt LifeFlight,” said Sherri Dean, Associate Nursing Officer for Vanderbilt LifeFlight. “Metro Aviation’s commitment to improving the safety and quality in the air medical industry aligns perfectly with Vanderbilt LifeFlight’s values, making them an ideal partner for this evolution.”
A Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter crashed in Wilson County, Tennessee, last November.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.