Air Medical Services
Superior Air Med Air Ambulance Transport
Superior Air Med is an industry leader in the emergency air medical transportation industry. With three EC135 helicopter air ambulances and two Learjets based out of DuPage Airport in West Chicago, Illinois, our flight team is available 24 hours a day, seven days per week, 365 days per year. Our staff of highly trained professionals provide outstanding patient care with rapid transport by helicopter to Centers of Excellence throughout Illinois and Indiana. Our Learjet 45XRs provide organ recovery, medical charter, and air ambulance services throughout the United States. Superior Air Med is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).
To Request Medical Helicopter Transport
To Request Medical Transport By Airplane
Our Mission & Vision
Superior Air Med’s mission is to make a positive difference in people’s lives through professional, competent, compassionate patients care and transportation with a commitment to safety and efficiency. Our vision is recognition as a leader of outstanding service, reliability, and patient care within the air and ground critical care transport industry.
Air Ambulance Services
We provide emergency transport services with air ambulance helicopters and jets for critically ill and injured adults, pediatric and infant patients (greater than 2.5kg) including:
- Transfers to higher levels of care (ER to ICU, Floor to ICU, ICU to ICU)
- Trauma
- Neurological
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Medical
- Transplant Services
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Transports to Emergency Room
- Long Distance Transports (Fixed Wing)
Superior Air Med can also provide the following patient care services:
- Advanced patient assessment
- Cardiac monitoring
- Airway management including medication-assisted intubation with paralytics, video laryngoscopy
- Ventilator management
- CPAP, BIPAP and Heated HFNC
- Advanced pharmacology
- IV Pump management and medication titration
- Blood product administration
- Central line access and maintenance
- Femoral sheath maintenance
- Doppler assessment
- Ventricular assist device management (LVAD, RVAD, BiVAD, PVAD)
- Invasive hemodynamic monitoring (Arterial Line, CVP, PAP/Swan Ganz Catheter)
- Transcutaneous, transvenous, and epicardial pacing
- Intra-aortic balloon pump management
- Impella management
- ECMO transport *with facility equipment, perfusionist
- External ventricular drain management
- Intracranial pressure monitoring
- Chest tube management
Air Ambulance Flight Team
Our flight team is comprised of the following highly skilled personnel.
- Critical Care / Flight Paramedics
- Critical Care Transport / Flight Nurses
- Helicopter and Fixed Wing Pilots
Flight paramedics have a minimum of 3 years of ALS (Advanced Life Support) experience, as well as having completed a university-accredited critical care training program (CCEMTP, CCP). Flight nurses must have at least 3 years of critical care experience. Pilots are IFR (instrument flight) rated with at least 2,000 flight hours.
In addition, clinical team members must:
- Participate in ongoing education to remain current in standards of care.
- Achieve board certification (Certified Flight Paramedic or Certified Flight Nurse).
- Obtain certification in ACLS, PALS, NRP, and Trauma.
Superior Air Med owns three Eurocopter EC135 P2+ twin engine helicopters. Features include:
- 140 mph Cruise Speed
- Single-Pilot IFR (Instrument Flight)
- Autopilot
- Helicopter Terrain Awareness Warning System (HTAWS)
- Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
- Night vision Goggle Imaging System
- On-board Weather Radar and XM Weather
- Outerlink Satellite Communication and Tracking
- IRIS Flight Data, Audio and Video Recorder
- Multiband Technisonic Radios (VHF, UHF, 700/800)
- Radar Altimeter
- Landing, Search and Pulse Lighting
- Wire Strike Protection Kit
- Fenestron Enclosed Tail Rotor
- Rear-loading with Stretcher
- Electronic Flight Bags with digital references
Superior’s Air Med flight program is fully committed to safety and meets or exceeds FAA/NTSB safety recommendations. An extensive Safety Management System is in place.
Superior Air Med helicopters are operated by Metro Aviation, Inc.
49 U.S.C. Section 42302 requires air ambulance providers to share the following contact information: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, C-75 | US Department of Transportation | 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE | Washington DC, 20590 | (202) 366-2220 | https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer
Our helicopters based at DuPage Airport (KDPA) in West Chicago, Illinois, provide Scene Response and Interfacility Transport for Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
Our helicopters can respond to locations within 50 miles within 30 minutes. Although our typical response area is within 100 miles, extended transports up to 250 miles can be performed. Transport by airplane is recommended for long distance transports.
Public Safety Personnel have a dedicated number for requesting a helicopter to the scene of an incident. Superior Air Med will auto-launch when placed on standby and can be cancelled at no cost. Consider requesting a helicopter if more than 25 minutes from a Level I Trauma Center and:
- Significant MOI (high speed MVC, vehicle vs pedestrian, fall from significant height)
- Injury warranting immediate surgery
- Signs of shock
- Prolonged extrication
- Multiple patients with severe injuries
Landing Zone Criteria
- 100 ft x 100 ft minimum
- Flat, Firm Surface (pavement preferred)
- Approach/Departure paths clear of obstacles in at least two directions
- Surrounding area clear of loose objects
- All hazards identified, especially nearby power lines
- All drones grounded
Safety Tips
- Identify an LZ Commander and provide their frequency (IREACH, IFERN, Fireground Color, etc.)
- Provide the flight crew a brief of LZ location and hazards
- Never shine lights at approaching aircraft
- Secure loose objects and beware of rotor wash
- Never approach a running aircraft unless directed
- Always stay clear of the tail
- Keep personnel and traffic at least 100 feet away
Contact us to request an LZ Operations Course, information or attendance at your event: https://tinyurl.com/SuperiorAirMed
Superior Aviation owns two Learjet 45XR airplanes to provide Air Ambulance transport and Organ Recovery/Transplant services. Features of these midsize, twin engine business jets include:
- 24/7 availability
- Dual Pilot: Captains with Airline Transport Pilot certification, at least 3,000 hours and airline experience; First officers with at least 1,000 hours
- 51,000 ft ceiling, 529 MPH cruise speed
- Up to nine passengers
- Gogo WiFi
- Galley, Lavatory
- Adjustable configurations for patient transport, transplant teams, and organ perfusion pumps
- Lifeport PLUS Medical System, AeroSled II, Load Ramp, and custom Hillaero equipment mounts
Air Ambulance transports include a Critical Care flight team providing bedside to bedside transport. Ground transport will be provided or arranged by Superior Ambulance as needed.
Superior Air Med airplanes are operated by Jet Logistics, Inc.
We provide service anywhere in the continental U.S., Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean Islands.
Our practical range is 1,500 miles – beyond this a fuel stop may be required.
Reminder: All passengers traveling domestically must carry a REAL ID or approved equivalent (Passport, Passport Card, DoD ID, Known Traveler ID, etc.), and passengers traveling internationally must carry a valid Passport.
The Superior Air Med Communication Center (SAMCOMM) is a dedicated dispatch center for our helicopters and airplanes, staffed 24/7 by multiple Certified Flight Communicators.
Each SAMCOMM Communication Specialist is responsible for coordinating flight requests, initiating responses, providing logistics support, arranging ground transportation and monitoring aircraft through all segments of transport, ensuring a smooth integration of resources.
Our Communication Specialists coordinate all flights with our air carriers’ Operational Control Centers. These OCCs also follow every flight from start to finish, ensuring all flight operations are accomplished safely and in accordance with federal aviation regulations.
Interested in a Career with Superior Air Med?
Join Our Team!
Whether you are thinking about a career as a Flight Paramedic/Flight Nurse or are currently a highly trained, seasoned professional looking for a career with a leader in the air medical transport industry, we would love to speak with you. Being a team member on an emergency medical transport helicopter is an extremely rewarding and fulfilling career path.
Once you apply for one of our positions, we will review your background in detail. If there is a strong match between your qualifications and our needs, we will contact you either by phone or e-mail.
We are an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. For our EEO Policy Statement, please click here. If you’d like more information on your EEO rights under the law, please click here: “EEO is the Law” English poster for screen readers.
Superior Air Med is committed to a barrier-free employment process. In order to ensure reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities pursuant to applicable law, individuals that require accommodation in the job application process for a posted position may contact us at: [email protected] or call us at 630-903-2358.