LifeFlight of Maine is an air ambulance critical-care transport service which operates in Maine, United States. Maine's only air ambulance service, and non-profit, it is owned by a partnership between Northern Light Health and Central Maine Healthcare.[1][2] It utilizes three modes of transport in patient movement: helicopters, an airplane and ambulances.[3]As of 2025[update], its medical helicopters carry over 2,000 patients each year, departing from Bangor, Lewiston and Sanford.[4]
The organization's aircraft are operated and maintained by LifeFlight Aviation Services (established in 2020),[1] a wholly owned subsidiary of LifeFlight of Maine. The LifeFlight Foundation (established in 2003),[1] a separate non-profit, raises funds and increases awareness of the organization's mission.[5]
History
Airmed Skycare was the predecessor to LifeFlight of Maine.[6] It was involved in a crash over Casco Bay in 1993, resulting in the deaths of two crew members and the patient.[7] The pilot, Sean Rafter, was the fourth and final person on board. He survived.[8]
MedComms, its privately owned dispatch service, is based in Bangor.[6] In 2022, LifeFlight of Maine switched from using an external aviation operator, Global Medical Response, to having an in-house system, which was expected to save the company around $800,000 per year.[17]
The service began in 1998 with an AgustaWestland A109C, followed by an A109C Max.[18] In 2004, two A109E helicopters (N901CM[19] and N901EM)[20] were purchased.[21] A third helicopter, N901LF,[22] the first of three A109SP Grand News, was added in 2020. It was followed in 2021 by N901XM.[23][24] The third, and most recent, addition was N901WM[25] in 2022.[26] The SP helicopters travel at an average speed of 165 miles per hour (266km/h). They have a range of 175 miles (282km) and fuel for a two-hour flight.[14]
N901EM, N901LF (each LifeFlight 1) and the fixed-wing Beechcraft B200 Super King Air (LifeFlight 3; N901LM)[27] are based in Bangor;[14][16] N901WM (LifeFlight 4) is based in Sanford; and N901XM (LifeFlight 2) is split between Lewiston and Bangor.[28]
As of 2024[update], three dedicated ambulances were in operation.[29]
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