posted September 03, 2026

Base holds grand opening event to celebrate expanded emergency air medical access across New Mexico, Arizona, and West Texas

LAS CRUCES, NM – Sept. 3, 2026 – Local officials, first responders, and healthcare leaders from across the White Sands region came together on Wednesday to cut the ribbon on Native Air’s new fixed wing air medical base in Las Cruces. Native Air 33, which is part of Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service provider, is co-located with its long-standing sister helicopter base at Las Cruces International Airport.

Guests at the event included representatives from the New Mexico State Legislature, City of Las Cruces, Dona Ana County Commission, Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, New Mexico State Police, Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority, Las Cruces Fire Department, El Paso Fire Department, Memorial Medical Center, Three Crosses Regional Hospital, Mountain View Regional Medical Center, University Medical Center of El Paso, TENET Hospitals of Providence, HCA – El Paso, and Mesilla Valley Hospital.

“The foundation of this [Native Air] is all about improved health outcomes,” said New Mexico State Representative and House Appropriations and Finance Committee Chairman Nathan Small. “When somebody has the worst day of their life, whether it is a newborn kiddo or somebody suffering from a cardiac arrest, or the many challenges that can find folks in these very rural parts of New Mexico, outcomes will be better and lives will be saved.”

The flight crew at the new air medical base uses this Pilatus PC-12 airplane to transport patients needing to go farther distances for higher-level medical care or in weather conditions that may limit the helicopters in the Native Air network. The program has bases in Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Deming, Silver City, Carlsbad, Artesia, and Roswell.

“Air Methods has been in the area for over 20 years with our Native Air rotor wing aircraft, and today we are strengthening that commitment with the addition of Native Air 33,” said Air Methods Area Manager Anthony Burch. “We have great hospitals here in the Las Cruces area, but sometimes specialists are needed that are only available in the larger metropolitan areas, like Dallas or Houston. Patients previously had to wait for a fixed wing aircraft to come from a different portion of the state, which could take an hour. Having this aircraft here saves valuable time.”

With an aircraft equipped as a flying ICU, the Native Air team provides lifesaving care for neonatal, pediatric, high-risk obstetric, and adult patients with cardiac, stroke, trauma, and other critical care needs. They carry whole blood that can be administered in-flight for patients suffering from severe blood loss and at risk of hemorrhagic shock, as well as a Zoll AutoPulse CPR device, allowing for in-flight mechanical CPR.

“When you need medical care, getting the right care at the right time matters,” said Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board President Dr. Adam Garcia Amador. “Distance and access can become serious obstacles when medical emergency happens, and Native Air helps close that gap by bringing emergency medical services and critical resources closer to the communities that need them.”

Air Methods is dedicated to serving communities across New Mexico and beyond. For patients with health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or VA coverage, air medical care is most likely included. Air Methods’ dedicated patient advocates work directly with patients based on their own unique financial circumstances, regardless of insurance coverage, to ensure affordability without the cost of an air medical membership.