UMMC AirCare

UMMC AirCare is the air medical programme of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. It is a hospital programme. It flies adults, children and newborns who need critical care.

Services

AirCare brings patients to UMMC and to other hospitals that can give the care they need. Crews can also take several patients from one scene. The Children’s Transport Services team includes the only neonatal flight team in Mississippi, the site says. It takes tiny sick babies to the state’s only Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit.

Aircraft and bases

The helicopter programme began in 1996 with one aircraft in Jackson. AirCare 2 is based in Meridian, AirCare 3 in Columbus and AirCare 4 in Greenwood. The aircraft are state assets and fly under single pilot instrument rules, with autopilot, weather radar and night vision goggles for night flights.

A news release from September 2026 says AirCare 5, a Pilatus PC 12 airplane based in Jackson, has started flying. It is AirCare’s first fixed wing aircraft and it serves longer distances across the state and region.

Crew and operators

Crews are critical care nurses and paramedics. Med-Trans operates the helicopters and holds control of the aircraft at all times. Guardian Flight provides the airplane, the pilot and the flight operations, while UMMC provides medical direction and the clinical crew.

Facts

• Type: hospital programme of the University of Mississippi Medical Center
• Helicopter bases: Jackson, Meridian, Columbus and Greenwood
• Fixed wing: Pilatus PC 12 based in Jackson, launched 2026
• Helicopter operator: Med-Trans
• Fixed wing operator: Guardian Flight