Air Methods delivers first medically equipped Bell 429 helicopter to Mercy One

Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the largest air medical transportation company in the world, recently delivered the first medically equipped Bell 429 helicopter to Mercy One, its hospital-based services customer in Des Moines, Iowa. Air Methods' Products Division is the first in the world to design, engineer, manufacture, and certify a medical interior for the Bell 429 helicopter.

"Air Methods' Products Division is very excited to introduce the Bell 429 medical interior into our extensive product line of emergency medical interiors, and honored to collaborate with Mercy One as the launch customer," stated Tom Curtis, Vice President, Products Division. "We drew on our robust in-house experience in designing, engineering, manufacturing, and certifying helicopter medical interior completions to make this medical interior a reality. We are confident the design will enhance safety and functionality for crew members and patients."

Starting with the brand new "green" Bell 429 helicopter, through the completion phase, the final medical interior completion and cockpit integrations were completed in-house through the company's Products Division. The Bell 429 medical interior can accommodate a single, dual, or specialty transport and the Roll-On Fold-Up Litter System loads through the aft clamshell doors. Combined with the large cabin, the medical interior design allows for full body access, optimizing patient care. The ability to carry two patients with both medical attendants at the head of the patient creates a more efficient medical environment.

As the industry leader in operational safety, Air Methods' Products Division worked with Bell Helicopters to develop and certify a technologically advanced glass cockpit designed specifically for helicopter EMS operations. Night vision goggle lighting, helicopter terrain avoidance warning system, satellite weather, GPS navigation, and satellite tracking equipment have been integrated to reduce pilot workload and enhance safety. "We strive to be the hospital EMS leader when it comes to improving our operational margin of safety and the Bell 429 avionics package meets those high standards," stated Paul Tate, COO, Air Methods Corporation.