Guardian Flight is Alaska’s largest and longest running air ambulance service capable of providing critical care transport throughout the state, and beyond.
We fly Lear 35 turbojets for long range flights and pressurized Beechcraft KingAir twin turboprops, for both shorter airstrips and longer distance flights. In Fairbanks, three aircraft and two ground ambulances are available 24/7. In our Sitka, Ketchikan, Dutch Harbor, and Anchorage locations, one aircraft is available 24/7. All locations are complimented with 2-Pilot crews, Flight Nurses, Flight Paramedics, and on-call Flight Respiratory Therapists; all with leading edge equipment and medications.
The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems accredited Guardian Flight Inc, a fixed wing service, on April 1, 2006. Guardian Flight provides highly skilled flight nurse/paramedic teams to care for adult, pediatric and neonatal patients. The program operates and maintains two Lear 35A jets and six Beechcraft King Air 200 airplanes.
Our area of operation covers all of Alaska, east into the Yukon Territory, south to Seattle and as far as Florida if necessary.
With our ground ambulances and pressurized aircraft, Guardian Flight crews care for the patient bed-to-bed during interfacility transports. From rural locations, the patient is cared for from point-of-care to the hospital. Guardian Flight has specialty teams for neonatal/infant/pediatric transports, maternal emergencies, complicated ventilator patients, and non-urgent arranged medical charters to or from any Alaskan community. We give caregivers accurate times for liftoff and arrival. Our average time from rural callouts to departure is 42 minutes. We have the capability to do multiple concurrent flights when needed.
Guardian's level of care is second to none in Alaska. We adhere to the National Consensus Standards for Critical Care (CAMTS); we train frequently with our physician owner. Consultation is immediately available via satellite phone from the field or the aircraft. Guardian Flight has full-time, dedicated, experienced pilots and uses two-pilot crews for maximum safety. FAA certified Guardian employees perform aircraft maintenance on our privately owned planes.
Within minutes of a call, a Guardian Flight communication specialist sets in motion a coordinated emergency response network by contacting pre-hospital flight and medical teams, arranging for ground transportation and coordinating transfers between the referring facility and the receiving hospital. Each communication specialist in the Communication Center has achieved NAACS certification.
The Communication Center is equipped with a sophisticated flight tracking program. Each and every call is unique and Guardian Flight's strength is in making things happen safely and quickly for the best patient care.
Guardian Flight maintains its leading edge with the highest level of continuing education for both the medical crews and pilots. Our safety record is impeccable. Our primary operating base is located on the main runway at Fairbanks International Airport, enabling efficient takeoff and arrival patterns with minimal delays. Our Sitka, Ketchikan, Dutch Harbor and Anchorage outstations are also located at their respective primary airports with all aircraft on 24/7 alert status for urgent MEDEVAC requirements. We also provide flight vending support (aircraft and pilots) for Manillaq Health Services in Kotzebue and Alaska Regional Medical Center medevac program in Anchorage.
With our own Part 135 Commercial FAA certificate, the flight and medical crews are all working together as an efficient, caring team. We do not "stack" flights. The aircraft are always fueled, equipped for any emergency, preflighted, and kept in a heated, secure hangar. Knowledge of Alaska's hopital and prehospital capabilities also helps greatly in the care of patients.
Guardian Flight AirCare is the premier membership program in Alaska. Membership is available for individuals and families, along with a short term travel plan. Click Here To Find Out More.
Guardian Flight was started in 1997 by Frontier Flying Service, and grew rapidly over the following three years. In 2000, Guardian Flight separated and emerged as a stand-alone, privately owned, critical care air ambulance service with our main base in Fairbanks, covering interior Alaska. Guardian Flight established a satellite base in Sitka, Alaska in 2004 and added an additional satellite base in Ketchikan, Alaska in 2005 to better serve southeast Alaskan Communities. We then expanded to Dutch Harbor in 2006 to provide critical care air transport service to the Aleutian Chain and opened a base in Anchorage in 2007 to service the Veteran's Administration requirements in SouthCentral Alaska.
Fees for Guardian Flight transports are based on distance of flight. Reimbursement from insurance companies is the main method of payment for medevacs. However, medical transports are based on medical need - not on ability to pay. Guardian Flight is always open to negotiation of contracts in order to further cost-effective transports.