Avera Careflight

Avera Careflight is an emergency air and ground transport service. Its base locations are Sioux Falls, Aberdeen and Pierre, South Dakota. The site says rapid emergency transport is essential in a region with a widely scattered rural population.

The service uses helicopters for shorter distances. Fixed-wing airplanes handle trips over 150 miles or when weather limits the helicopter. Ground ambulances provide critical care between medical facilities. The site says the service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The Careflight paramedics keep advanced cardiac life support and trauma care certifications. The nurses have critical care experience and hold trauma nursing certifications. Teams include adult and pediatric, neonatal and obstetrics specialists. The crew stays in contact with telemedicine providers and trauma teams during transport.

Careflight covers a 125-mile radius across the Upper Midwest. Its regional medical centers include Aberdeen, Marshall, Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Yankton in South Dakota. It can also travel to large centers such as Bismarck, Fargo, Minneapolis, Omaha and Rochester.

The site describes a Careflight membership. It costs $49 a year for full coverage of emergency air transport for a member, spouse and dependents. Insurers are billed, and their payment is accepted as payment in full. Non-members can still use the service in an emergency.

The site says Avera Careflight is accredited by CAMTS. A site visit was scheduled for May 27 to 28, 2026. Aviation services are provided by MRIS, LCC and Avera McKennan. The emergency air transport number is 800-367-3278. Membership questions go to the Avera Foundation at 605-322-4759.