Life Flight Network Becomes First Air Medical Program in the World to Achieve Dual HAI-APS and IS-BAO Accreditation

AURORA, Ore., March 01, 2016 -- Today at the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Conference in Louisville, KY, Life Flight Network (LFN) received recognition for earning two distinguished safety accreditations. LFN is the first air medical operator in the world to receive the HAI Accreditation Program of Safety (HAI-APS) designation for helicopter air ambulance operations. Simultaneously, LFN received International Standard for Business Aircraft Operators (IS-BAO) accreditation from the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC).

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39e0756d-158b-40a4-a676-bb43334513a3

HAI-APS is a voluntary program to assist helicopter operators reduce accident and incident rates by helping to ensure the program’s safety culture is where it should be. HAI, the trade association for the international helicopter community, developed HAI-APS to help participating businesses “fly to a higher standard” of safety and professionalism. To become an HAI-APS accredited operator, programs need to demonstrate their operations are in compliance with internationally accepted standards of safety and professionalism for helicopter operations.

IBAC is an international, non-governmental association which represents, promotes, and protects the interests of business aviation in international policy and regulatory forums. IBAC introduced the IS-BAO program after recognizing the need for the business aviation community to take a lead role in fostering harmonization of operating procedures and requirements. IS-BAO’s fundamental purpose is to foster standardized, safe, and highly professional aircraft operations.

“We owe it to our employees, our patients, and to the communities we serve to conduct air ambulance operations as safely as possible,” stated Michael Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer of LFN. Griffiths adds, “Becoming the first air ambulance operator in the world to achieve dual HAI-APS and IS-BAO accreditations is further demonstration of our commitment to operating medically configured helicopters in the safest manner possible.”

About Life Flight Network
Life Flight Network, the United States’ largest not-for-profit air medical service, has 16 helicopters bases, 5 fixed-wing bases, and several ground ambulances throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health System. The company consistently ranks in the top 15 best large nonprofit employers to work for, according to Oregon Business Magazine. Rotor-wing services are provided by Life Flight Network and fixed-wing services are provided by Life Flight Network and Jackson Jet Center. For more information about Life Flight Network, visit www.lifeflight.org.

For more information, contact:
Justin Dillingham, Chief Customer Officer
[email protected]
503-678-4364