About Us

Alabama Life Saver was the first airborne emergency service to operate in Alabama, beginning service in January 1981 at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham.  Since that time, the program has transported more than 30,000 patients and flown 2.5+ million miles.  In May 2001, Alabama Life Saver was purchased by Addison, Tex.-based Omniflight Helicopters, Inc., a leading provider of air medical services throughout the U.S.  The company operates 100 aircraft nationally from 72 bases in 18 states, with a strong presence across the Southwest, Midwest and Southeast.

At the time of its inception, Life Saver’s crew consisted of a registered nurse and medical doctor until it was purchased by Omniflight in May 2001. Crew make up now consist of Critical Care RNs and Paramedics.  At that time, Omniflight began transitioning  two aircraft 24/7 into a community based program and continued growth in Alabama as well as an on-site maintenance facility that has garnered and untarnished safety record .  

Currently, Alabama Life Saver operates five Bell 206 Long Ranger turbine powered helicopters from five bases throughout the state including those in Birmingham, Opelika, Gadsden and Sylacauga as well as a traditional program at Children’s’ Hospital in Birmingham.  All aircraft are fully equipped to provide a high level of patient care.  Each aircraft is capable of transporting a  critical injured or ill patient along with a highly skilled staff comprised of a registered nurse, paramedic and experienced pilot.  Alabama Life Saver operates 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Alabama Life Saver forged a strong relationship with The Children’s Hospital of Alabama in 2002.  A pediatric crew is used for pediatric interfacility transports.

In January 2008 Children’s Hospital transitioned into a different engagement with Omniflight, and entered into a contract for the provision of air frame, pilots maintenance and staging facility to ensure a dedicated aircraft for the transport of interfacility pediatrics.  

Also in January 2008, Alabama Life Saver opened a base in Sylacauga at Sylacauga Airport.

Alabama Life Saver is dedicated to transporting critically injured and ill patients from anywhere within 150 miles of each of its bases: Birmingham, Gadsden, Auburn and Sylacauga .  Each is capable of transporting patients to any medical facility that best serves their needs, either from an accident scene or from one hospital to another if prearranged by a physician.

Authorized pre-hospital agencies or other designated individuals and agencies may request Alabama Lifesaver in accordance with state trauma plan.  Inter-facility transports are arranged physician to physician.  Alabama Lifesaver may be dispatched during arrangement in progress and in compliance with all Cobra regulations.

Alabama Life Saver has been providing air medical services to Birmingham and various surrounding communities for 27 years.  Addison, Tex.-based Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. is a leading provider of air medical services throughout the U.S. The company operates 100 aircraft nationally from 72 bases in 18 states, with a strong presence across the Southwest, Midwest, and Southeast regions. Its focus is primarily on inter-facility transport and on-site emergency scene response using both rotor- and fixed-wing aircraft.