CareFlight Air Transportation

CareFlight helicopters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Within minutes of a call, an aircraft is airborne, bringing an intensive care unit directly to a critically injured or ill patient.

CareFlight operates three state‑of‑the‑art helicopters. Each is designed specifically for critical care transport. Our air medical aircraft:

  • Carry two units of whole blood for use during hospital‑to‑hospital and scene responses
  • Are staffed by two flight clinicians (dual flight nurses or a flight nurse and a flight paramedic)
  • Can transport up to two patients simultaneously
  • Are equipped with advanced medical technology and secure communication systems
  • Travel at speeds of up to 180 mph, making them among the fastest air medical helicopters in the region
  • Serve a 150‑mile radius from Miami Valley Hospital

Helicopter Base Locations

CareFlight helicopters are strategically based at:

  • Lebanon - Warren County Airport
  • Urbana - Grimes Airport
  • Darke County Airport

This placement ensures rapid response times and broad regional coverage.

Advanced Flight Operations and Safety

CareFlight utilizes Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). IFR capability allows our pilots to safely navigate defined flight corridors, often described as “highways in the sky,” even in challenging weather conditions. This results in safer, more reliable, and faster transport to Miami Valley Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center and other destination facilities.

About Our Aircraft

CareFlight operates the Leonardo AW169 - a modern, twin-engine helicopter specifically engineered for Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) missions. The AW169 offers exceptional performance, safety, and cabin versatility—allowing medical crews to deliver advanced critical care in flight.

The AW169’s design supports CareFlight’s mission of delivering rapid, high‑level critical care while maintaining the highest safety standards. 

Additionally, CareFlight’s helicopters are maintained and operated by HeliService USA, a nationally recognized aviation services provider with extensive experience in the Leonardo AW169. HeliService USA is responsible for:

  • Aircraft maintenance and airworthiness
  • Pilot staffing and ongoing flight training
  • Compliance with FAA regulations and safety programs

This partnership allows CareFlight to focus on clinical excellence, while ensuring aircraft operations meet rigorous safety and performance standards.

Accreditation and Quality Commitment

CareFlight Air Transportation is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), reflecting our long-standing commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement in air medical transport.