HELP Flight celebrates this month its 40th anniversary of responding to emergencies in south-central Montana. The air ambulance service run out of St. Vincent Healthcare has spent four decades taking to the sky to help Montanans in their times of need. Providing what can be life-saving care while in the air requires a very specific… Read more »
Source: Metro Aviation, 27-Jun-19
REACH Air Medical Services (REACH), will place a new type of helicopter in the region, an Airbus H125 helicopter. The new model was purchased by REACH specifically for service in Montana because of its high-reliability rates, high-altitude performance capabilities, and safety features. The new aircraft is specially outfitted for use in the air medical environment… Read more »
Source: REACH Air Medical Services, 21-Sep-17
Life Flight Network announced today it has entered into an agreement with Allegiance and Cigna to become an in-network air ambulance provider in Montana. The announcement is a major milestone just days before Life Flight Network opens a new helicopter base at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Life Flight Network is now in-network with all… Read more »
Source: Life Flight Network, 31-Aug-17
Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s A.L.E.R.T rescue team was happy to add the new Bell 407-GX helicopter to their team. They have had to rely on their one aircraft for the past 18 years, causing them lots of downtime when it was sent in for maintenance. The helicopter was paid for by a private contributor, reports… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 07-Aug-17
Life Flight Network today announced it is opening a new helicopter base in Bozeman, Montana by September 1, 2017. Located at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, the base will make ICU-level care provided by flight nurses, paramedics or respiratory therapists accessible to people anywhere in southern Montana and northern Wyoming. “Whether a person has suffered… Read more »
Source: Life Flight Network, 06-Jul-17
Kalispell Regional Medical Centre has to replace their Advanced Life-support and Emergency Rescue Team (ALERT) helicopter which has been in service for 17 years. The helicopter meets the new FAA rule of having a terrain awareness and warning system but the helicopter is down 105 days of the year due to repairs. The only backup… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 03-May-17
Montana’s Senate has sanctioned a bill, the Senate Bill 44, which allows patients to only pay co-payments and insurance deductibles after the use of an air ambulance. The remaining cost will be split between insurance companies and air ambulance providers. The bill was created when it was brought to light how exorbitant the costs of… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 13-Feb-17
Mr. Jesse Laslovich, candidate for Montana state auditor, recently distributed an article, “Air ambulance flights add insult to injury,” suggesting air medical providers are the primary cause for the high cost of transporting critically ill patients. That position overlooks the insurance industry’s responsibility to cover their beneficiaries’ emergency medical needs. Simply put, some insurance companies… Read more »
Source: AAMS, 16-May-16
Hillsboro Aviation Inc. will become the Airbus Helicopters exclusive commercial aircraft sales agent for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska under an agreement announced Tuesday by officials of Airbus Helicopters Inc. The exclusive sales agent agreement is the first authorized by Airbus Helicopters Inc. in the company’s 47-year history. Based in Hillsboro, Ore. since 1980, Hillsboro… Read more »
Source: Airbus Helicopters, 02-Mar-16
More than 50 people showed up for a Yellowstone County Zoning Commission meeting at 4 p.m. Monday, but the meeting was canceled shortly after its scheduled start time because the board didn’t have a quorum. See Full Story
Source: Billings Gazette, 14-Jan-16
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) announced today the purchase of a new MD 530F by Two Bear Air Rescue in Whitefish, Montana. The custom MD 530F will perform a variety of missions in support of search and rescue teams in Flathead County and other agencies across the rural and rugged landscape of Glacier National Park and… Read more »
Source: MD Helicopters, 26-Oct-15
A federal review found that Montana has a safe aviation program, but it is unlikely the state’s five firefighting helicopters will be used to respond to blazes on U.S. Forest Service lands this year, officials said Friday. See Full Story
Source: The Washington Times, 17-Sep-15
A private contractor has been part the firefighting effort in Northwest Montana attacking fires from above. See Full Story
Source: Daily Inter Lake, 26-Aug-15
The crew with Two Bear Air search and rescue completed a milestone recently with its 2,200th hoist operation, an achievement the team carried out over the past 18 months through a combination of rescue missions and training exercises.See Full Story.
Source: Flathead Beacon, 09-Jul-15
Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. is celebrating 20 Years supporting the UH-1 helicopter industry in 2015. A FAA approved Repair Station, Tamarack Helicopters Inc., offers complete restoration services, component overhaul, and non destructive testing for UH-1 operators.. As part of the celebration of their 20th anniversary in business Tamarack is pleased to announce their new website at… Read more »
Source: Tamarack, 24-Jun-15
On shutting down after practice autorotations, a wrinkle was discovered in the tail boom
04-May-15
Minor damage after skid touched ground while hovering
13-Mar-15
As sheriff’s sales go, this should be a doozy. Auctioneer Kevin Hill has already gotten calls from Michigan, Minnesota, Wyoming and “a guy I think was from Georgia,” Hill said. “He had a real deep Southern drawl.” See Full Story
Source: Missoulian, 10-Mar-15
EagleMed’s AS350 B3 at the Bert Mooney Airport, where a dedicated hangar is under construction. EagleMed Photo EagleMed LLC has begun flying critical care air medical transport flights throughout southwest Montana from its newest base at Butte’s Bert Mooney Airport. The company will lease a new dedicated 10,000 square foot hangar that is being built… Read more »
Source: EagleMed, 14-Nov-14
from the pages of Concern Network Bulletin comes this cautionary report from the team at Northwest MedStar:- At the beginning of April, the Medstar base in Missoula, Montana acquired new Zoll X-series monitors. Shortly after being placed into service, we began to notice that the monitors would turn off at the Missoula International Airport base… Read more »
Source: Concern Network, 05-Aug-14
Rocky Mountain Rotors (RMR), based at Gelatin Field in the Montana city of Bozeman, have recently added a Bell 429 to their fleet. This single pilot IFR aircraft is soon to be configured with an external hook, NVG (for night mountain navigating), FLIR (for SAR missions), external cargo (ski basket) and had already been fitted with… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 02-Jun-14
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced a new purchase agreement and multiple deliveries for new Bell 407GX aircraft configured for VIP transport. The company has reached a signed purchase agreement with Helicopter Flight Services (New York City, NY) for a new Bell 407GX helicopter and two new Bell 407GXs to be delivered… Read more »
Source: Bell, 15-May-14
Northwest MedStar, the preferred provider of critical care transport for Providence St. Patrick Hospital and Community Medical Center, took to the Montana skies on Wednesday, April 2 at 0700 from its base at the Missoula International Airport. “Our community members and patients are receiving continuous critical care transport services from the local, experienced Missoula teams,”… Read more »
Source: Northwest MedStar, 15-Apr-14
Rolled over onto its side in an open field on a training flight. Minor injuries to the two POB. NTSB report here
04-Apr-14
Billings Flying Service are to have one flying within four months, with the second aircraft slated for refurbishment over next winter See full story The actual aircraft are N561AJ ex 90-00184 which sold for $3,500,500 N562AJ ex 90-00185 which sold for $3,003,762
Source: Billings Gazette, 24-Feb-14
Life Flight Network (LFN) announced the opening of its newest base of operations at the Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, Montana today. The base is home to a new AgustaWestland 119Kx “Koala” air medical helicopter, and 14 employees. The helicopter will extend air ambulance service to more communities in Montana and Eastern Idaho, allowing for… Read more »
Source: Life Flight Network, 29-Jan-14
After months of careful review, Providence St. Patrick Hospital, with input from Community Medical Center, has entered into an agreement with Northwest MedStar to provide critical care transport services, previously provided by the Life Flight air ambulance program. Northwest MedStar will begin base operations on April 2, 2014. Providence St. Patrick Hospital entered into the… Read more »
Source: Northwest MedStar, 02-Jan-14
Life Flight Network (LFN), the nation’s largest not-for-profit air medical transport service with headquarters in Aurora, Oregon, announced plans today to open a new base at Bert Mooney Airport in Butte, Montana by approximately January 15, 2014. Michael Griffiths, LFN’s CEO, states, “Life Flight Network seeks opportunities to provide much-needed air medical resources to rural… Read more »
Source: Life Flight Network, 15-Dec-13
The FAA FISDO Office out of Helena, Montana, has issued a Part 145 Maintenance Repair Station Certificate to Rocky Mountain Rotors Maintenance, a division of Rocky Mountain Rotors Montana. This is the first FAA Part 145 certificate approved in over 7 years in the Montana area. Rocky Mountain Rotors Montana Partner James T. Lee, Sr…. Read more »
Source: Rocky Mountain Rotors, 15-Dec-13
The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Two Bear Air are pleased to announce the arrival of the much-anticipated Bell 429 rescue helicopter. This helicopter is the flagship of a unique public/private philanthropic partnership between Flathead County and philanthropist Mike Goguen of Whitefish. “Residents and visitors are drawn to enjoy the natural resources and rugged atmosphere… Read more »
Source: Two Bear Air, 11-Nov-13
Benefis Mercy Flight has an EC135P2 to serve north-central Montana, recently upgrading from an AS350 – both being operated by Metro Aviation. The aircraft being used is N135GF, serial 0249. See full story
03-Nov-13
During lifting operations, rotated to the ground and rolled over
02-Nov-13
Pilot Todd Hanawalt and two passengers were surveying power lines for a company on Saturday afternoon when the helicopter crashed. killing Hanawalt
27-Jul-13
Substantial damage in force landing
01-Jul-13
Crew was practicing water-bucket drops at about 1 p.m. Friday when the helicopter crashed. It was sitting upright in about 3 feet of water with the tail boom damaged just forward of the tail rotor and the main blade tips showing signs of having struck something
28-Jun-13
Firefighters with the Billings Fire Department will have a unique opportunity to learn how to handle an aircraft emergency during a training exercise at Billings Logan International Airport. (see full story)
06-Jun-13
An appeals court has denied a temporary injunction to halt helicopter use in bison hazing operations. (See Full Story)
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 22-May-13
Madison Valley Medical Center and private donors have come together to provide Madison Valley with a helicopter pad that will deliver safe access to air ambulances. (See Full Story)
Source: Madisonian News, 13-May-13
Montana, one of the least populated states in the US, has seen well more than its “fair share” of helicopter accidents and incidents in the last fives weeks. HeliHub.com has reported no fewer than five such events in its Accident/Incident data pages, including one fatal accident. Other situations include a bird strike breaking the windshield… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 09-May-13
Bird strike broke windshield while flying over Reed Point under NVG conditions. The pilot determined that the aircraft was safe to continue the flight to base at the Billings airport. No injuries.
06-May-13
Sole occupant pilot killed after striking wires
27-Apr-13
Rolled over on landing. Supporting work on radio repeater site on the mountain
25-Apr-13
The first year of Summit Air Ambulance’s existence in southwest Montana has been a memorable one (see full story).
Source: Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 17-Apr-13
Using helicopters to drive bison back into Yellowstone National Park may resume this spring after a federal court judge in Helena ruled Tuesday against a conservation group that believes hazing harms grizzly bears (see full story).
Source: Rapid City Journal, 04-Apr-13
Helicopter ended up with tail boom severed by main rotors – which were themselves removed by the accident. Left skid completely deformed. All 4 occupants suffered minor injuries
02-Apr-13
Main driveshaft failure in low level hover
18-Aug-12
Summit Air Ambulance is expanding its business with a new base in the Montana city of Belgrade, which they expect to have up and running by 1st January. (see full story). The company is based in Idaho and has a base at Boise in their home state of Idaho, as well as bases at Las… Read more »
15-Dec-11
Emergency landing beside road. No apparent external damage
03-Aug-11
An environmental group is suing the U.S. Forest Service over plans to use a helicopter to drive bison from Montana into Yellowstone National Park.
Source: Moscow-Pullman Daily News, 19-May-11
The 62nd Montana Legislature passed a bill, signed by Governor Brian Schweitzer on April 22, allowing consumers to purchase membership subscriptions for private, life-saving air ambulance services, including Missoula-based CareFlight
Source: Clark Fork Chronicle, 25-Apr-11
Main blades severed tail boom during autorotation on training flight
15-Jan-11
There was real smoke and a make-believe helicopter crash atop St. Patrick Hospital Tuesday morning.
Source: Misosulian, 21-Oct-10
Aero Dynamix, Inc, the industry leader in Night Vision Lighting Systems salutes A.L.E.R.T. Air Ambulance, located in Kalispell, Montana, their 35th Year Anniversary by donating its services to provide an STC Update for the NVIS lighting upgrade on their Bell 407 that included a Garmin GNS 530W HTAWS Upgrade to further enhance their mission capability… Read more »
Source: Aero Dynamix, 15-Oct-10
Three fire tankers and a ladder truck responded at 9 a.m., Missoula police sealed off a block of Owen Street on the east side of the hospital, and two crash victims – one deceased mannequin and a live volunteer – were rescued from the roof by ladder.
Source: Missoulian, 30-Sep-10
M1 Support Services was awarded an $8,220,722 contract modification which will maintain mission-capable helicopters at 24/7 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and Yokota Air base, Japan; and perform helicopter aircrew flight equipment support at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., Malmstrom Air Force… Read more »
Source: US Dept of Defense, 16-Sep-10
In their preliminary report of the Aug. 10 crash that injured two men, NTSB investigators say the small Piper Cub from Park City was coming in for a landing when it apparently flew into the rotor wash of a large helicopter.
Source: Billings Gazette, 09-Sep-10
Attempting to quiet rumors of secret government flights over Billings, a local flight business says it’s using a large cargo helicopter to train pilots for a private company formerly owned by Blackwater.
Source: http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_bbcf748a-b70f-11df-b106-001cc4c03286.html, 04-Sep-10
Accident on 8th August 2010 was recorded in HeliHub.com safety pages here
Source: Missoulian, 13-Aug-10
The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has joined the growing list of customers supported by DART Helicopter Services. DART is a leader in production and global distribution of more than 3,000 certified helicopter accessories and components. Montana DNRC recently ordered five AKV cycle counter systems for its five Bell UH-1 fire-fighting and… Read more »
Source: DART Helicopter Services, 10-Aug-10
A business has launched a new helicopter touring service over the Butte region, with plans to also expand a pilot training program into the area.
Source: Victoria Advocate, 27-Oct-09
The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday launched the second phase of its largest ever prescribed fire in the Lewis and Clark National Forest. Using a “helitorch,” the Scapegoat Wilderness was intentionally set ablaze at the confluence of Hoadley Creek and the South Fork of the Sun River, 25 miles west of Augusta. A helitorch is… Read more »
Source: Great Falls Tribune, 25-Sep-09
St. Vincent Healthcare’s HELP Flight helicopter has rescued hundreds of injured and sick people, including Gulbraa, from mountaintops, highways and barnyards across south-central Montana and northern Wyoming.
Source: Billings Gazette, 21-Sep-09
19-Jun-09 N911GF Eurocopter AS350B2 Great Falls, US-Montana
19-Jun-09
