REACH Air Medical Services to acquire five new Airbus helicopters

REACH Air Medical Services will boost its life saving capabilities with the addition of five Airbus helicopters.

Airbus Helicopters Inc. will deliver the three H125s and two H130s this year, with the aircraft going into service by spring.

REACH is a subsidiary of Global Medical Response (GMR), a leading medical transportation company formed when Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH) and American Medical Response (AMR) joined in 2018.

“Global Medical Response is a true industry leader, and we are proud to help REACH improve patient care and save lives,” said Chris Emerson, president of Airbus Helicopters Inc. and head of the North America region. “The selection of these new aircraft demonstrates the trust the air medical industry has in our aircraft and our ability to support their critical missions.”

Headquartered in Sacramento, California, REACH provides critical care air transport service to communities throughout California, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Texas, and Colorado.

“These new aircraft will allow REACH to expand our service area while modernizing our helicopter fleet with the most modern solutions,” said REACH president Sean Russell.

When selecting new aircraft for the fleet replacement initiative, REACH prioritized safety and reliability while also considering the speed, range and suitability of both helicopter models.

“The Airbus H125 and the H130 have both found great success in the air medical community because of their reliability and performance,” said Vicky Spediacci, vice president of aviation operations for REACH.

“They are remarkable aircraft, and when equipped with the advanced avionics packages, autopilot, GPS, terrain avoidance and crash-resistant fuel systems, we are confident they will deliver safe and reliable service to our flight crews and the communities they serve.”

Known for its power and versatility, the Airbus H125 features dual hydraulics, dual channel engine FADEC and advanced glass-panel cockpit displays. Air medical operators laud the aircraft’s hot-and-high performance. The H125 is built by Airbus Helicopters Inc. at its facilities in Columbus, Mississippi.

The Airbus H130 is considered the global reference for single-engine helicopter air ambulance missions. It has a wide, unobstructed cabin that allows easy loading and unloading of patients.

The low interior sound levels and flat floor of the H130 provide a flexible cabin environment capable of accommodating up to three medical crew and specialty team equipment required to care for complex patients.

In the past decade, nearly two-thirds of all new EMS helicopters sold in the United States were produced by Airbus Helicopters. Today, more than 90 EMS operators in North America rely on more than 1,230 Airbus helicopters for their emergency care transport needs.

Be sure to visit Airbus Helicopters at booth Booth #429.