Mercy Life Line Air Medical Service

Mercy Life Line is the air medical helicopter service operating from Springfield, Missouri. It is part of Mercy Springfield Communities and provides emergency medical transport using helicopters. The program has been in service since 1984, offering rapid air transport for patients across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

The service responds to life-threatening emergencies such as trauma, medical, and obstetrical cases. Flight crews include a registered nurse, a paramedic, and a pilot. Crews either respond directly to accident scenes where ground EMS support is available or transfer critically ill patients between hospitals.

Mercy Life Line operates five Airbus H135P2+ twin-engine helicopters. These helicopters are equipped with advanced technology allowing them to fly under instrument flight rules (IFR) with a single pilot. This makes them the only IFR-capable helicopter program in the region. Each aircraft includes features such as satellite weather, night vision goggles, weather radar, autopilot, terrain awareness warning systems, and advanced communication radios.

Mercy developed its own private airspace navigation system approved by the FAA. This system connects eight regional hospitals and allows helicopters to fly in weather conditions that would typically prevent flights. It lets pilots safely land at selected hospitals, extending service availability in poor weather.

The program holds full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). Mercy Life Line has maintained CAMTS accreditation since 2006, with the current term valid from April 1, 2024, through April 1, 2027. CAMTS accreditation covers medical direction, crew education, safety, communications, and quality improvement.

Besides air medical transport, Mercy Life Line offers specialized services such as neonatal transport and intra-aortic balloon pump patient transfers. The team supporting the air medical service includes flight communication specialists, mechanics, physicians, and various support staff working alongside referring hospitals and EMS partners.

Mercy Life Line has remained accident-free since it began operations. Operational control and flight operations are conducted by Metro Aviation, Inc. The program serves communities in the four-state region providing emergency medical transport and critical care when time is vital.

Services

• Emergency medical transport
• Trauma response
• Medical emergency transport
• Obstetrical emergencies
• Neonatal transport
• Intra-aortic balloon pump transfer
• Interhospital critical patient transfer
• Flight communications
• Flight crew education
• EMS partnership support