OMNIFLIGHT HELICOPTERS, INC. TO OPEN NEW AIR MEDICAL SERVICES BASE IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO THROUGH ITS SOUTHWEST MED EVAC SUBSIDIARY

ROSWELL, N.M. … February 27, 2009 … Southwest Med Evac, an Omniflight company, announced today the opening of a new air medical services base in Roswell, N.M.  The base will initiate 24/7 service beginning on March 1, 2009 and will assist hospitals and first responders throughout the region with the rapid transportation of critical patients, primarily focused on scene response and inter-facility transport.  This new base will provide air medical transport services to patients and the medical communities of Roswell, Carlsbad, Artesia, Portales, Santa Rosa and Ruidoso; all of which are in New Mexico. These span Chaves, Eddy, Lea, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Guadalupe and Curry counties. 

Southwest Med Evac’s new helicopter medical transportation will be provided from a new Eurocopter Super B-3.  This aircraft has a cruise speed of more than 130 mph and can transport patients from the region to tertiary care centers in Albuquerque, N.M. and Lubbock, Tex.  The aircraft will operate using night vision goggles for increased safety during low-light operations.  The aircraft and flight team will be based at the Roswell Industrial Air Center.  The helicopter will augment the company’s already-established fixed wing operations in Roswell. 

The flight crew for the new service in Roswell consists of highly experienced nurses, paramedics and pilots.  The crew is equipped with state-of-the-art medical devices, which essentially convert the aircraft into a virtual flying intensive care unit. 
“We are very excited about the opportunity to provide comprehensive air medical services to the citizens and medical community in Roswell and across the region.  Physicians and first responders now have an additional resource to choose from when transporting patients in the event of an emergency or when inter-facility transports are required for medical necessity.  This helicopter is vital to providing seamless air medical services coverage in Southern New Mexico as there will now be a helicopter available within 30  minutes of any location within the Southern part of the state,” noted Omniflight’s Business Development Director Rob Campion.

Southwest Med Evac has served patients and the medical community of New Mexico since 1994 and has transported over 22,000 patients.  The company operates eight aircraft from six air medical bases in New Mexico including those in Silver City, Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs and four additional bases throughout West Texas.  The company is licensed by the New Mexico Department of Health as a critical care provider and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.  Details can be found at www.omniflight.com/southwestmedevac. 

Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. is a leading provider of air medical services throughout the U.S.  The company operates 100 aircraft nationally and operates from 72 bases in 18 states, with a strong presence across the Southwest, Midwest and Southeast regions as well as certain Mountain State areas.  Its focus is primarily on inter-facility and on-site emergency scene response using both rotor and fixed-wing aircraft.  For more information, please visit www.omniflight.com.

For Further Information, Contact:
Susan J. Lewis, PAIRELATIONS, LLC
303-804-0494, susan.lewis@omniflight.com