Air Methods Recognizes Aviators Ahead of World Pilot Day

Day Spotlights Importance of Pilot Precision, Skill, and Safety to Connect Neonatal and Pediatric Patients Across Kentucky to Norton Children's Specialized Care

LOUISVILLE, KY - April 24, 2026 - In recognition of World Pilot Day, Air Methods, the nation's leading air medical provider, is highlighting two pilots who help make pediatric and neonatal transport possible across Kentucky-Lead Pilot Bradley Rice and Pilot TJ McNelis. Through the long-standing Norton Children's Just for Kids Transport partnership, Rice's and McNelis' skills, compassion, and commitment to safety help ensure critically ill and injured children can access specialized care.

Based in Louisville, Rice and McNelis are two of four pilots who fly for Norton Children's Just for Kids Transport (JFK) program, a dedicated pediatric team that supports interfacility transports statewide. The program serves neonatal and pediatric patients requiring a higher level of care and includes a wide range of mission types-from premature newborn transfers to children and teens needing specialty surgery or ICU-level support-with plans to soon expand pediatric ECMO (a specialized, temporary life support machine for patients with life-threatening heart or lung failure) by air capability to further strengthen access to advanced lifesaving care.

"Our partnership with Air Methods is built on a shared commitment to getting our smallest and sickest patients the specialized care they need-safely, quickly, and with the highest level of coordination," said Norton Children's Critical Care Transport Manager Amy Ball. "TJ and Bradley exemplify what that partnership looks like at its best. Their professionalism in the cockpit and their seamless teamwork with our clinicians help ensure every transport mission is focused on one thing, the child and family depending on us."

Rice and McNelis both fly the Airbus H145 twin-engine helicopter. Rice says pediatric and neonatal transports can be uniquely personal. Families are often present at the sending facility, and in many cases, because of the availability of space in the aircraft, a parent is able to ride along. With that added proximity to families, Rice emphasizes the importance of balancing compassion with clear operational boundaries-always with safety as the guiding priority.

Rice has flown helicopters for 29 years, including nearly 20 years in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). He joined Air Methods nearly seven years ago. He also served 20 years in the Kentucky Army National Guard, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) after a decade as an enlisted aircraft maintainer and crew chief and another decade flying UH-60 Black Hawks.

"Being able to give back, that's what drew me to medical aviation," Rice said. "We bring the helpers to where they need to be. And pediatric transports are special to me. One of my children was transported by this same team 26 years ago, so it feels full circle."

McNelis shares Rice's sentiment that transports can be uniquely personal. He was drawn to air medical aviation by its unique blend of technical precision and human impact, supporting families during some of the most critical moments of their lives.

"I'm a helper," McNelis said. "Flying air medical combines challenging, technical flying with the opportunity to support families during some of the most critical moments of their lives. Supporting pediatric patients adds another layer of purpose to the work."

For McNelis, maintaining safety and focus begins with self-awareness. He emphasizes the importance of acknowledging emotions rather than suppressing them, recognizing that empathy, grief, and compassion are part of the job.

"In pediatric transport, pilots are a critical link in ensuring a child reaches the right care at the right time," said Calicia Patton, Air Methods' market segment manager of pediatric programs. "Their judgment-evaluating weather, routing, landings, and aircraft performance-creates the safe, stable environment for Norton Children's critical care team to focus on the patient. When time is critical, a pilot's decision-making helps make sure every child has the best possible chance to get the specialized care they need."

After 15 years of flying, McNelis says the fulfillment he finds in air medical aviation is unmatched.

"I can't imagine doing anything else that would bring me more purpose," he said. "Helping people matters. Feeling like I make a difference matters. Gratitude keeps that attitude fresh."

Despite their roles in the cockpit, both McNelis and Rice are quick to credit the teams around, across the entire operation-from clinicians to mechanics to fellow pilots.

On World Pilot Day, Air Methods celebrates pilots like McNelis and Rice, whose professionalism, humility, and dedication help strengthen the Norton Children's Just for Kids Transport partnership and keep safety at the center of every pediatric and neonatal mission.