AIR METHODS FIRST TO FLY AIRBUS AS350 HELICOPTERS RETROFITTED WITH FAA-CERTIFIED CRASH RESISTANT FUEL SYSTEMS

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Investing approximately $15 million to retrofit Airbus AS350 & EC130 fleet

(DENVER, Colorado, February 27, 2018) – Air Methods, the global leader in emergency air medical services, is pleased to announce the first Airbus H125 (formally known as AS350) with the Federal Aviation Administration-certified crash resistant fuel system (“CRFS”) has entered service. As part of Air Methods’ dedication to the safety of its crews and patients, the Company also announced a commitment to investing approximately $15 million to retrofit its Airbus H125 and H130 (formally known as EC130) fleet with the updated CRFS.

The first H125 with the new system arrived at Air Methods’ headquarters in Denver, Colorado on Dec. 30, 2017, following the achievement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificate approval. The first aircraft was delivered to one of the Company’s air medical bases in Kennesaw, Georgia, where it is currently in service. To date, Air Methods has received and completed the installation of 11 CRFS at its heavy maintenance facility located in Colorado. The Company intends to roll out an entire fleet of retrofitted Airbus H125 and H130 over the next two years.

“At Air Methods, safety is our top priority and we are proud to announce this important milestone towards improving crashworthy protections in all of our aircraft, as we continue to raise the bar to ensure the safe return of our crews and patients to their loved ones,” said Aaron Todd, Air Methods CEO. “The CRFS program is critical to the air medical transportation industry and we look forward to continuing to work together with legislators to support the implementation of new legislation and improved, industry-wide safety standards.”

Air Methods has been advocating for and supporting CRFS for several years. In 2015, Air Methods partnered with StandardAero (formerly Vector Aerospace) in seeking certification for a CRFS for all Airbus single-engine helicopters operated by Air Methods. As part of this partnership, Air Methods provided StandardAero with an aircraft to conduct CRFS testing, which was a necessary step for Supplemental Type Certification (“STC”) by the Federal Aviation Administration.

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About Air Methods Corporation

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 Rotorcraft 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 provide 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 approximately 500 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Media Contact:
Christina Ward
Director of Corporate Communications, Air Methods
(303) 256-4122