Air Methods Corporation (NASDAQ: AIRM), the global leader in air medical transportation, announced today that it has acquired San Antonio Air LIFE, owned by Baptist Health System of San Antonio/Tenet Corporation, and Bexar County Hospital District doing business as University Health System.

“We value our long-term relationship with San Antonio Air LIFE,” said Aaron Todd, Air Methods’ chief executive officer. “This new venture reinforces Air Methods’ commitment to delivering high quality service and emergency air medical response to the residents of Texas. In addition, we are honored to welcome members of the San Antonio Air LIFE team to the Air Methods family, and look forward to this new chapter.”

The five San Antonio Air LIFE bases are located in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kerrville, Uvalde, and Pleasanton, Texas. Each base is staffed with approximately 15 highly-trained air medical professionals, including flight nurses, flight paramedics, mechanics and pilots, in service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Air Methods acquired substantially all of San Antonio Air LIFE’s assets, including the program name, branding, medical equipment and the Flight Communication Center (FLTCOMM). In addition, Air Methods will acquire two aircraft owned by University Health System. The program will continue to operate under the San Antonio Air LIFE program name.

“San Antonio Air LIFE has strong roots in San Antonio and Texas as the first civilian air ambulance program in the area,” said Graham Reeve, chairman of the board of San Antonio Air LIFE, and president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health System. “Since 1991, we have flown more than 54,000 patients, and have provided our community with a valuable, lifesaving service. We are excited to extend this commitment with Air Methods at the helm.”

George B. Hernández, Jr., president and chief executive officer of University Health System added, “As a Level I trauma center serving all of South Texas, every day we count on Air LIFE to safely transport critically injured patients to University Hospital.  We are proud of our affiliation with this nationally recognized team, and look forward to a continued partnership with Air Methods and Air LIFE. Together, we are creating a model for sustaining and continually advancing this lifesaving program for the years to come.”

Air Methods will continue service in San Antonio and south Texas.

Air Methods Corporation (www.airmethods.com) is the global leader in air medical transportation. The Air Medical Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services in the United States. The United Rotor craft Division specializes in the design and manufacture of aeromedical and aerospace technology. The Tourism Division is comprised of Sundance Helicopters, Inc. and Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, which provides helicopter tours and charter flights in the Las Vegas/Grand Canyon region and Hawaii, respectively. Air Methods’ fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features over 450 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.