Two Bases Planned for Morristown and Rockwood, Expanding Access to Life-Saving Care

Knoxville, TN - April 28, 2026 - Air Methods, the nation's leading air medical service provider, announced today a partnership with Covenant Health to launch a dedicated air medical program serving communities across East Tennessee. This program, expected to become operational May, will operate two air medical bases in Morristown and Rockwood, each housing an Airbus H135 helicopter.

This partnership brings together Air Methods' nationally recognized aviation expertise with Covenant Health's clinical excellence, strong regional presence and long-standing commitment to high-quality patient care. Once operational, the program will significantly enhance rapid access to advanced medical transport for patients in both urban and rural communities, supporting hospitals, first responders, and healthcare providers throughout the region.

"By partnering with Covenant Health, we are strengthening our ability to deliver timely, high-quality care when minutes matter most," said Brandon Ryan, Air Methods Vice President of Business Development. "This new air medical program will play a critical role in ensuring patients across East Tennessee have access to specialized care, regardless of where they live."

Each base will be staffed around the clock with Air Methods' highly trained pilots and mechanics, alongside Covenant Health's experienced clinicians, providing a seamless, integrated approach to emergency and critical care transport. The aircraft will have the capability to carry specialized medical equipment, including baby pods for infant transports, as well as Impella, intra-aortic balloon pump, and ZOLL AutoPulse NXT devices to support complex cardiac patient transport. Crews will also carry whole blood for in-flight administration to patients experiencing severe blood loss and at risk for hemorrhagic shock.

"This partnership reflects our continued commitment to expanding access to high-quality care for the communities we serve," said Jim VanderSteeg, president and CEO of Covenant Health. "By working with Air Methods, we can help ensure patients-especially those in rural areas-have timely access to critical care when it matters most."

The program will operate Airbus H135 helicopters, selected for their safety features, reliability, and performance in a wide range of operating environments. Designed with multiple layers of safety to protect patients and crew, the H135 features a crashworthy fuel system, energy-absorbing seating, redundant flight control and hydraulic systems, and a rigid rotor system that provides high and consistent rotor clearance. These capabilities enhance overall safety, improve patient and crew comfort, and reduce pilot workload, making the H135 one of the safest and most trusted aircraft in air medical transport.

As part of the launch process, Air Methods and Covenant Health will work closely with local stakeholders, emergency responders, and healthcare partners to ensure seamless integration of the new air medical resources into the region's emergency response network.