posted September 03, 2025

LAKE CITY, FL – Sept. 3, 2025 – Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service provider, is excited to announce a pair of strategic moves that will expand access to lifesaving care across north Florida and into south Georgia.

AirLife 7, which has provided critical care services across Suwannee County since 2013, will move 20 miles east to Lake City Gateway Airport, ensuring faster response times and enhanced coverage for Columbia County and surrounding areas. The base will continue to be fully staffed and operated by Air Methods’ industry-leading clinicians, pilots, and mechanics.

In addition, the current AirLife 7 base in Live Oak will now be the home of Suwannee Air Rescue. This new partnership between Suwannee County Fire Rescue and Air Methods will see Suwannee County paramedics working alongside Air Methods’ highly experienced flight nurses and pilots to form an integrated, high-performing emergency response team.

“Our partnership with Air Methods helps ensure our residents have access to the highest level of emergency care,” said Dan Miller, Fire Chief of Suwannee County Fire Rescue. “By combining our local knowledge with their advanced capabilities, we’re creating a flying ICU that brings lifesaving care directly to our community.”

This expanded ecosystem allows patients to reach higher levels of care much faster. The aircraft can transport critical patients to Gainesville or Tallahassee in about 20 minutes, compared with more than an hour by ground, and to Jacksonville in 50 minutes, compared with two hours driving.

With these two bases, Air Methods now operates 10 air medical bases, stretching across Interstate 10 from Jacksonville to Pensacola.  This expanded ecosystem allows for faster response times to emergency calls, offering 24/7 care for patients suffering from trauma events, heart attacks, strokes, pediatric emergencies, burns, motor vehicle accidents, and more.

“Our ability to provide rapid and reliable emergency medical transport is a vital asset to the communities we serve across Florida and Georgia,”,” said Air Methods Regional Sales Director Zach Nicholson. “These moves will allow us to expand our service area while continuing to provide the industry-leading care that our partners and their patients have come to expect.”

Both bases will operate a Bell 407 helicopter, known for its speed, reliability, and fuel efficiency. It is fully equipped with the advanced medical equipment and medications required to function as a flying ICU. Their industry-leading flight nurses and paramedics carry blood on board, allowing them to administer this lifesaving resource at a trauma scene or in flight.

Air Methods is dedicated to serving communities across Florida and beyond. The company is in-network with most health insurance providers, and the Air Methods patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to help ensure the affordability of air medical services.