Airlift Northwest
Formation1982
Legal statusNot-for-profit organization
PurposeAir medical services
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, United States
Region served
Alaska and Washington
Executive Director
Jeff Richey
Medical Director
Richard Utarnachitt, MD
Parent organization
UW Medicine
Websiteuwmedicine.org/airliftnw


Airlift Northwest, a program of the University of Washington School of Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, provides flight transport via helicopter and fixed wing aircraft for patients needing intensive medical care in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

History

Airlift Northwest was founded in 1982 after three children perished following a Sitka, Alaska, house fire because there was no way to rapidly transport them to a facility capable of treating their injuries.[1] The University of Washington's Dr. Michael Copass was the driving force behind the service which started with one Seattle-based fixed wing aircraft and a medical crew of one physician and one nurse.[2] It was the first critical care air ambulance service in the region.[3]

Since 1982, Airlift Northwest has had four incidents:

  • One of the organization's helicopters crashed into Puget Sound on September 11, 1995, while en route to Bainbridge Island to pick up a woman in labor. Two nurses and one pilot were killed in the incident.[4]
  • The pilot and sole occupant of an Airlift Northwest helicopter sustained serious injuries in a crash near Granite Falls in 2002.
  • In 2005, another Airlift Northwest helicopter crashed into the waters off of Edmonds on the evening of September 28; all occupants (a pilot and two nurses) were killed.[5]
  • On October 28, 2005, an Airlift Northwest helicopter crashed during takeoff from the rooftop helipad of Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. One flight nurse received minor injuries.[6]

Airlift Northwest crews played key roles in the response to the 2014 Oso mudslide, transporting 5 injured survivors to area hospitals.[7]

Operations

Washington
Bellingham
Bellingham
Arlington
Arlington
Olympia
Olympia
Bremerton
Bremerton
Davenport
Davenport
Yakima
Yakima
Pasco
Pasco
Wenatchee
Wenatchee
Wenatchee
Wenatchee
Locations of Airlift Northwest rotary wing and fixed wing bases in Washington[8]

Airlift Northwest operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and flies approximately 4,000 patients annually. The not-for-profit agency is entirely self-funded with a $40 million annual budget. Airlift Northwest estimates that it provides about $7.5 million in uncompensated charity care every year.[9]

Base locations

Fleet

As of March 2023, Airlift Northwest consists of the following fleet operated by Air Methods Corp. and Aero Air, LLC.[10]

Rotor wing aircraft

Fixed wing aircraft

Crew

Airlift Northwest's pilots and aircraft are supplied trained and maintained by two outside contractors: Air Methods Corporation and Aero Air. Approximately 70 medical personnel, employees of the University of Washington,[11] provide care aboard flights. Medical crews are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, trauma nursing core course, neonatal resuscitation and Emergency Medical Technician.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "History and Qualifications". Airlift Northwest. University of Washington. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  2. ↑ Richey, Jeff (September–October 2012). "Regional Manager for Airlift Northwest". Air Medical Journal. 31 (5): 215. doi:10.1016/j.amj.2012.06.014.
  3. ↑ "History and Qualifications". Airlift Northwest. University of Washington. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Scott (February 1996). "Volunteer Firefighter at Bainbridge Island Fire Department". Journal of Emergency Nursing. 22: 11. doi:10.1016/S0099-1767(96)80062-6.
  5. ↑ "Three Die in Medical Helicopter Crash". Sinclair Interactive Media. KOMO Television. September 29, 2005. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ Skolnik, Sam (October 29, 2005). "Medevac helicopter crashes in Olympia; one hurt". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Bauman, Valerie (April 29, 2014). "Staff Writer". The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Airlift Northwest Washington Base Map" (PDF). uwmedicine.org. University of Washington. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  9. ↑ Bauman, Valerie (April 29, 2014). "Staff Writer". The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Aviation Services & Partners". UW Medicine. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  11. ↑ Bauman, Valerie (April 29, 2014). "Staff Writer". The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  12. ↑ "History and Qualifications". Airlift Northwest. University of Washington. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
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