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06/22/2007: "MedVac Helicopter Based On SJI This Summer"

(The flight map example of distance/time shows starting times from Arlington)

A helicopter owned by Airlift Northwest will be based at the Friday Harbor airport this summer. Airlift Northwest Regional Manager Jeff Richey explained the move will expedite emergency services for residents and visitors in the San Juan Islands. By basing a helicopter at Friday Harbor, the response times will be shortened, not only to Friday Harbor, but to all the islands as well. The helicopter will be at the airport during the day on alternating weekends.

“This move allows us to provide service more quickly during a busy time of year,” Richey said, and added that “The summer months bring more visitors to the islands and the need for more emergency services. .”

“We experience increased need for air medical transportation during the busy summer season,” said San Juan Island EMS Chief Jim Cole. “We appreciate Airlift Northwest recognizing this need. This is a very positive relationship that provides superior service for people on the islands who experience a critical medical or traumatic emergency.”



Airlift nurses and pilots will stay at the San Juan Island EMS crew quarters which are just minutes from the Friday Harbor helipad. This local positioning of the crew and aircraft will significantly shorten the time required for the helicopter to reach a patient in the San Juan Islands. Cole explained that San Juan Island EMS, or the EMS teams on Orcas, Lopez and other islands, will continue to bring patients to an airport to meet the ALNW helicopter.

The Airlift Northwest helicopter will be in Friday Harbor on the following dates: July 4, 6-8, July 27-29, Aug. 10-12, Aug. 17-19, Aug. 31-Sept. 2, and Sept. 15-16. It will arrive at 9:45 am and depart for its Bellingham base at 6:00 pm each day. The attached map provides the flight times between the islands and Airlift Northwest bases in both Bellingham and Arlington.

As an additional service, Airlift Northwest operates a membership program that is available to people on the islands. Under that program, called AirCare, when Airlift Northwest is requested by a medical facility or an emergency response team to fly a critically ill or injured patient to appropriate medical care, the portion of the Airlift Northwest bill that isn’t covered by insurance or Medicare is paid through the membership. A membership in AirCare is $79 a year and covers all members of a household. Information is available on-line at www.airliftnw.org or by calling 888-835-1599.


(San Juan Island EMS is the tax supported, county EMS agency serving the residents and visitors of San Juan Island, Town of Friday Harbor, Brown Island, Stuart Island, Johns Island, Speiden Island, Pearl Island and Henry Island in San Juan County, Washington. It provides emergency medical services, critical care transport, and injury and accident prevention.

Airlift Northwest is a nonprofit service founded in 1982 to provide air medical services for critically ill and injured infants, children and adults. Airlift Northwest has bases in Washington and Alaska to serve the Pacific Northwest. More information is available at www.airliftnw.org)