Global Medical Response (GMR) unit Guardian Flight will open its first Alaska rotary-wing base at the Kenai Municipal Airport this spring, serving hospitals in Homer, Soldotna, and Seward with an Airbus Helicopters H125. The Kenai base will operate 24/7 with a staff of four pilots, four clinicians, and two mechanics.
Guardian’s helicopter base will join the company’s 11 fixed-wing air ambulances in the state, including Learjet 45s that fly from Guardian Flight bases in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and Ketchikan; a trio of King Air 200s that serve Dead Horse, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Juneau, and anchorage; and a Cessna Caravan in Dillingham.
Guardian participates in the AirMedCare Network (AMCN) air medical transport membership program. For an annual fee of $65, patients flown by an AMCN provider do so at no additional out-of-pocket costs after payment from member or third-party insurance.
"GMR and Guardian Flight Alaska are pleased to expand our services to now include helicopter support for emergency patient airlifts, in addition to interfacility transfers," said GMR v-p of northwest operations Jared Sherman. GMR air ambulance companies include American Medical Response (AMR), Rural Metro Fire, Air Evac Lifeteam, REACH Air Medical Services, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corporation and AirMed International. Privately-held GMR was formed in 2018 through the combination of Air Medical Group Holding and American Medical Response and is controlled by investment firm KKR.