LifeFlight of Maine

LifeFlight of Maine
Established1998 (1998)
FounderTom Judge
Norm Dinerman
TypeMedical transportation
HeadquartersMaine
Location
  • United States
ServicesAir ambulance
Websitelifeflightmaine.org

LifeFlight of Maine is an air ambulance critical-care transport service which operates in Maine, United States. Maine's only air ambulance service, and non-profit, it is owned by a partnership between Northern Light Health and Central Maine Healthcare.[1][2] It utilizes three modes of transport in patient movement: helicopters, an airplane and ambulances.[3] As of 2025, its medical helicopters carry over 2,000 patients each year, departing from Bangor, Lewiston and Sanford.[4]

The organization's aircraft are operated and maintained by LifeFlight Aviation Services (established in 2020),[1] a wholly owned subsidiary of LifeFlight of Maine. The LifeFlight Foundation (established in 2003),[1] a separate non-profit, raises funds and increases awareness of the organization's mission.[5]

History

Airmed Skycare was the predecessor to LifeFlight of Maine.[6] It was involved in a crash over Casco Bay in 1993, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and the patient.[7] The pilot, Sean Rafter, was the fourth and final person on board. He survived.[8]

LifeFlight of Maine was established in 1998 by Tom Judge and Norm Dinerman.[1][9][6] Helipads were installed at Sebasticook Valley Hospital[10] and Central Maine Medical Center[11] in 1999, in Swan's Island[12] in 2002 and at Maine Medical Center[13] in 2019.[4][14] In 2025, the construction of a helipad in Bar Harbor was confirmed.[15] Helipads are not required for LifeFlights to land.[16]

MedComms, its privately owned dispatch service, is based in Bangor.[6] In 2022, LifeFlight of Maine switched from using an external aviation operator, Global Medical Response, to having an in-house system, which was expected to save the company around $800,000 per year.[17]

Fleet

The service began in 1998 with an AgustaWestland A109C, followed by an A109C Max.[18] In 2004, two A109E helicopters (N901CM[19] and N901EM)[20] were purchased.[21] A third helicopter, N901LF,[22] the first of three A109SP Grand News, was added in 2020. It was followed in 2021 by N901XM.[23][24] The third, and most recent, addition was N901WM[25] in 2022.[26] The SP helicopters travel at an average speed of 165 miles per hour (266 km/h). They have a range of 175 miles (282 km) and fuel for a two-hour flight.[14]

N901EM, N901LF (each LifeFlight 1) and the fixed-wing Beechcraft B200 Super King Air (LifeFlight 3; N901LM)[27] are based in Bangor;[14][16] N901WM (LifeFlight 4) is based in Sanford; and N901XM (LifeFlight 2) is split between Lewiston and Bangor.[28]

As of 2024, three dedicated ambulances were in operation.[29]

Personnel

As of 2025, LifeFlight of Maine's chief executive officer is Joe Kellner;[30] its chief operating officer is Bill Cyr.[31]

Recognition

The organization received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) in 2017.[14] In 2025, it was awarded the Salute to Excellence Safety Award by Vertical Aviation International.[32]

References

  1. ^ a b c d swmc_access (2021-11-16). "Structure & Governance | LifeFlight of Maine". Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  2. ^ "Roux Institute students help Maine's air ambulance service respond to emergencies faster". Press Herald. 2024-07-15. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  3. ^ "Home | LifeFlight of Maine". lifeflightmaine.org. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  4. ^ a b "Maine Med's new $8 million helipad saves time – and likely lives". Press Herald. 2019-12-15. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  5. ^ hfrank (2024-09-28). "Our Mission | LifeFlight of Maine". Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  6. ^ a b c Ellison, Jesse (2017-02-09). "Healers in the Sky". Down East Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  7. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Fuel exhaustion Accident Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II N911ME, Friday 19 November 1993". asn.flightsafety.org. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  8. ^ "Sean Rafter, 49, the pilot of the Airmed Skycare Inc. helicopter which crashed i". Maine News Index – Portland Press Herald. 1993-11-21.
  9. ^ Thurlow, Alyssa (2024-09-14). "Founder of LifeFlight of Maine appointed to federal advisory committee". WABI. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  10. ^ "47ME - Sebasticook Valley Hospital Heliport | SkyVector". skyvector.com. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  11. ^ "ME95 - Cmmc Air Ambulance Landing Site Heliport | SkyVector". skyvector.com. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  12. ^ "ME5 - Banks Airport | SkyVector". skyvector.com. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  13. ^ "68ME - Maine Medical Center Heliport | SkyVector". skyvector.com. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  14. ^ a b c d swmc_access (2021-07-26). "History | LifeFlight of Maine". Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  15. ^ Blanchard, Grace (2025-02-24). "Bar Harbor approves agreement with LifeFlight of Maine for new helipad". FOX 22/ABC 7. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  16. ^ a b "5 Things You Didn't Know About LifeFlight of Maine". Down East Magazine. 2024-07-29. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  17. ^ "With rising costs from partner, LifeFlight of Maine brings aviation operations in-house". EMS1. 2022-04-18. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  18. ^ JUSTHELICOPTERS (2018-10-07). Rotorcraft Pro Visits LifeFlight of Maine. Retrieved 2025-05-06 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ "Newest LifeFlight helicopter joins fleet". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2004-12-26. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  22. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "LifeFlight's new $6.25 million helicopter: Bigger. Faster. Smarter". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2021-04-11. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  25. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "LifeFlight of Maine copter fleet complete". Mainebiz. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  27. ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 2025-05-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Community Concepts (2021-05-17). A Tour of LifeFlight of Maine. Retrieved 2025-05-06 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ WMTW-TV (2023-06-28). LifeFlight of Maine adding 3 ambulances to fleet in 2024. Retrieved 2025-05-06 – via YouTube.
  30. ^ "LifeFlight of Maine names new CEO". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  31. ^ Bouchard, Monique (2021-07-26). "People | LifeFlight of Maine". Retrieved 2025-04-30.
  32. ^ Thurlow, Alyssa (2025-01-24). "LifeFlight of Maine receives international award for 'exceptional contributions to enhancing safety'". WABI. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
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