Emergency Helicopter Service Returns to West Yellowstone for Summer Season

Air Idaho Rescue reopens Yellowstone Airport base to support local residents, visitors, and first responders

West Yellowstone, MT, April 7, 2026 - Air Idaho Rescue has reopened its seasonal air medical base at Yellowstone Airport, restoring rapid emergency helicopter response for West Yellowstone and the surrounding communities during the busy spring and summer seasons. Having an aircraft staged in West Yellowstone helps reduce time to definitive care when emergencies happen in remote locations or along busy corridors in and around the park.

"Because so much of the park is remote and hard to reach by ground resources, this helicopter is critical for accessing patients in need of emergency care," said Matt Benson, area manager with Air Methods. "Being based here for the season supports local agencies and helps get patients to definitive care more quickly when every second counts."

The crew is also bringing a new clinical capability to treat patients suffering from collapsed lungs due to excess air or blood trapped in the chest cavity. If their traditional procedure, a needle thoracostomy, does not result in the lung reinflating, nurses are now trained to perform an open thoracostomy (also known as a finger thoracostomy). While more intrusive, this procedure is considered a more reliable method of addressing this life-threatening condition in a pre-hospital setting.

"A finger thoracostomy rapidly relieves pressure in the chest, which can be deadly," said Air Idaho Rescue Flight Nurse Casey Waldron. "This procedure is more reliable than needle decompression since, in some instances, the needle is too short, can kink, or may clog. For some patients, especially in rural areas that are farther from a trauma center, this procedure can mean the difference between life and death."

Air Idaho Rescue's AS350 A-Star helicopter is known for strong performance at high altitudes and in hot weather-an ideal fit for Yellowstone National Park, Hebgen Basin, and the surrounding communities. The aircraft carries a team of industry-leading trauma clinicians, plus the equipment and medications needed to deliver advanced care in flight. With whole blood on board, the crew can administer it when patients are at risk of severe blood loss or hemorrhagic shock due to falls, vehicle crashes, or other traumatic injuries.

Air Idaho Rescue is part of Air Methods, the nation's leading air medical service provider, delivering emergency critical care and transport, as well as interfacility transfers when patients need to move between hospitals for specialized treatment. Air Idaho Rescue pilots and clinicians bring years of experience and receive advanced, ongoing training, supporting seamless coordination with local EMS and hospitals.

Pre-paid membership is not necessary with Air Methods. The 2022 federal "No Surprises Act" eliminated the need for memberships from any air medical provider. Under the Act, patients are responsible only for the copay, coinsurance, deductible, or maximum out-of-pocket cost outlined in their health plan-regardless of which company provides the transport. Uninsured patients and those unable to afford their copay or deductible can contact the Air Methods Patient Advocacy team for assistance based on their own unique situation, no matter what state they may be visiting from. In an emergency requiring air medical service, the first available carrier should transport the patient to the hospital, and patients should never delay care while waiting for a particular carrier based on a membership.