posted December 05, 2025

Humble beginnings lead to a decade and a half of critical medical care to those who need it most

KINGMAN, AZ – Dec. 5, 2025 – TriState CareFlight 66 commemorated 15 years of dedicated service to the Kingman community and beyond on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The celebration, held at the TriState CareFlight base at Kingman Municipal Airport, brought together former patients and their families, city officials, local EMS partners, the Kingman Chamber, and both current and former crew members to honor this significant milestone.

Established in Kingman 15 years ago as TriState CareFlight 14, the base joined a network of sister locations across Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. It was later renamed TriState CareFlight 66 to better reflect its position along historic Route 66. From inception, the base addressed a critical need for helicopter service to support Kingman and neighboring communities, strategically enhancing coverage and response times throughout northwest Arizona. Since then, the dedicated team has provided lifesaving care to thousands of patients, delivering critical interventions and offering hope to countless families.

One of those patients is 21-year-old Tranquilino Barela, who survived a gunshot wound to the head earlier this year. When weather prevented air transport, TriState’s clinicians joined ground EMS, delivering ICU-level care en route to a Level 1 trauma hospital in Las Vegas, NV.

“I’m thankful for the crew,” said Barela, who attended the anniversary with his family to personally thank the flight crew and ground EMS providers who helped save his life. “They kept me alive. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Over the past decade and a half, the TriState CareFlight team has developed deep-rooted relationships with EMS partners and healthcare providers, lending to a seamless approach for patient care.

“CareFlight is truly a lifeline for Kingman and the surrounding region,” said Kingman Mayor Ken Watkins. “Their rapid response and advanced medical care have bridged the gap for our residents, ensuring that even in the most critical moments, help is never far away. The dedication of CareFlight’s crews, bringing the emergency room to the skies, has saved countless lives and strengthened our community.”

TriState CareFlight provides support to first responders and hospitals, offering the community critical care 24/7/365 and responding to emergency medical and trauma events, including heart attacks and strokes, burns, and other critical ailments and incidents—serving as a flying intensive care unit.

TriState CareFlight’s ongoing investment in the region continues to make a profound impact. The team is certified to carry and administer blood on every transport, a lifesaving resource proven to improve patient outcomes. Most recently, they added the AutoPulse® NXT, an automated CPR device that delivers continuous chest compressions during flight, enabling clinicians to safely perform additional lifesaving interventions. In 2026, TriState CareFlight 66 will be certified to use a tocodynamometer to help monitor pregnant moms and provide fetal care in transport to higher levels of care. Additionally, the program will introduce another lifesaving asset in Fort Mohave next year, reflecting a steadfast commitment to partnering with local first responders and hospitals to continually improve patient outcomes.

TriState CareFlight program remains dedicated to serving communities across Arizona, California, and Nevada. The program in-network with most major insurance providers, and its dedicated patient advocacy team works directly with patients and families to ensure that financial concerns never stand in the way of receiving care. No prepaid membership is ever required.

Beyond emergency medical services, TriState CareFlight is also deeply committed to the Kingman community.

“We’ve participated in so many local events like airshows, the Boys and Girls Club, Walk Away from Drugs, and many school events. We’ve even delivered Santa Claus to the Elks Lodge, where toys were distributed to the children,” said Rick Stevenson, the base’s original aviation mechanic. “I must admit, the excitement shown on children’s faces as Santa arrived from the air was inspiring to all of us.”