Airlift Northwest
Airlift Northwest, a program of the University of Washington School of Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, provides flight transport via helicopter and fixed wing aircraft for patients needing intensive medical care in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. History. Airlift Northwest was founded in 1982 after three children perished following a Sitka, Alaska, house fire because there was no way to rapidly transport them to a facility capable of treating their injuries. The University of Washington's Dr. Michael Copass was the driving force behind the service which started with one Seattle-based fixed wing aircraft and a medical  crew of one physician and one nurse. It was the first critical care air ambulance service in the region. Since 1982, Airlift Northwest has had three incidents: Airlift Northwest crews played key roles in the response to the 2014 Oso mudslide, transporting 5 injured survivors to area hospitals. Operations. Airlift Northwest operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and flies approximately 3,200 patients annually from six bases in Washington State (Bellingham, Bremerton, Seattle, Olympia, Arlington and Yakima) and one in Juneau, Alaska The non-profit agency is entirely self-funded with a $40 million annual budget. Airlift  Northwest estimates that it provides about $7.5 million in uncompensated charity care every year. Crew. Airlift Northwest's pilots and aircraft are supplied trained and maintained by two outside contractors: Air Methods Corporation and Aero Air. Approximately 70 medical personnel, employees of the University of Washington, provide care aboard flights. Medical crews are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, trauma nursing core course, neonatal resuscitation and Emergency Medical Technician.