Novant Health AirLink

Novant Health AirLink provides medical helicopter transport services across southeastern North Carolina and parts of South Carolina. It operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, moving critical and injured patients from other healthcare facilities or directly from emergency scenes to hospitals. The program is part of Novant Health, a hospital system serving these regions.

AirLink aircraft are twin-engine Airbus H135 and H145 helicopters capable of flying at speeds up to 136 knots. The helicopters are licensed to operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in both North and South Carolina. The aircraft, pilots, and maintenance services are supplied by Novant Health's partner, Apollo.

The AirLink program has bases at Albert Ellis Airport in Richlands, Columbus Regional Healthcare System in Whiteville, Novant Health Brunswick Novant Center in Bolivia, and Novant Health Rowan Medical Center in Salisbury. These locations support AirLink's coastal service area, which includes multiple counties such as New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and others. In addition, it covers central North Carolina counties like Rowan, Davidson, and Forsyth, as well as Horry, Georgetown, and Florence counties in South Carolina.

In addition to patient transport, Novant Health AirLink and its ground transport partner VitaLink provide training courses for EMS and hospital staff. These courses cover subjects such as landing zone safety, airway management, cardiovascular emergencies, trauma, pediatric care, and stroke care. VitaLink is an approved continuing education provider through the North Carolina Office of EMS. They also offer public outreach and clinical continuing education programs for prehospital and hospital-based healthcare professionals, including nursing credit with specific courses.

The AirLink/VitaLink teams provide landing zone safety training and support for local EMS and fire departments, including live helicopter operations. They are available to assist in public events by offering various levels of medical transportation, from air transport to critical care and basic life support units. This combined service ensures patients receive timely and appropriate care across their wide service area.

Services

• Medical helicopter transport
• Scene-to-hospital transport
• Inter-facility patient transfers
• EMS and hospital staff training
• Landing zone safety courses
• Airway skills workshops
• Trauma and cardiac care education
• Pediatric emergency training
• Public event medical support
• Continuing medical education