Good news, shame no congressman will be in town
Air Methods' 'Medevac' System
Completes Final Army Test
DENVER, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq: AIRM - news)
announced that its Multi-Mission Medevac System for the U.S. Army's UH-60Q BlackHawk
helicopter has successfully completed the final operational test preparatory for expanding product
marketing to other U.S. and foreign military operations.
During the test, a tactical unit under simulated battlefield conditions employed the UH-60Q. In
recognition of this event, the U.S. Army will display the UH-60Q, equipped with Air Methods'
interior, at the Pentagon this Wednesday and Thursday. Congress and key members of the Pentagon
have been invited to an unveiling ceremony. The Army plans to retrofit 447 UH-60Q BlackHawks
over the next 10-20 years with Air Methods' system, which enables soldiers to quickly convert a
BlackHawk from a troop and supply carrying vehicle to emergency medical evacuation vehicle
within a two minutes. Funds to construct the next seven units have been allocated and authorization is
pending.
With the operational test complete, the Army next year plans to issue a ''Type Classification''
certificate which will enable Air Methods to market the product to the U.S. Air Force, Navy and
Marines, which own more than 200 BlackHawks, as well as foreign militaries, which own more than
500. Air Methods' Product Division has already begun discussions with military representatives from
Korea, Israel, Greece and Japan.
Michael Prieto, Vice President of the Products Division, said, ''We are pleased with the progress on
the UH-60Q program as it demonstrates our ability to effectively satisfy a complex set of U.S.
military requirements and meet high standards of technical performance and quality.''
Air Methods Corporation is a leading provider in the estimated $1 billion market for aeromedical
services. In addition to its Flight Services Division, Air Methods' Mercy Air subsidiary is one of the
largest independent providers of air medical services. The Products Division specializes in the design
and manufacture of multi-functional interior products and systems for commercial and government
agencies, domestically and internationally. The Company's fleet of owned, leased or maintained
aircraft features 39 helicopters and 5 fixed wing aircraft. |
