HELICOPTERS Service Area Two helicopters operate 24 hours a day - seven days a week One helicopter is based at Carolinas Medical Center A second helicopter rotates between Grace Hospital in Burke County and Catawba EMS Base in Catawba County Click here to view the helicopter service area. Equipment Helicopter aircraft operated by Air Methods. FAA Part 135 Certificate number QMLA253U. Two Bell 230 Helicopters Twin engine IFR capabilities Satellite tracked Advanced medical equipment including LP-12 monitors, LV1000 ventilators, IV infusion pumps, advanced drug supply and Intra Aortic Balloon Pumps Capabilities 150-mile radius from each base Scene and inter-facility responses Two patient load capability Radio contact with an ER physician during flight Pilots All Pilots provided under contract from Air Methods FAA ATP helicopter certificate with instrument helicopter rating 3,000 hours of previous helicopter flight time 1,000 hours in turbine helicopters FAA first-class flight physical annually All pilots must be instrument and night qualified as well as current in the assigned aircraft Crew RN/RN or RN/RRT configuration Three to five years experience in ICU or ER medicine Cross-credentialed with EMS certifications Advance training in aeromedical physiology, aircraft safety and transport protocols Additional requirements include TNCC, BTLS / ATLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP-certified, yearly rotations through high-risk OB, OR and cardiac catherization labs for procedure training.