Guardian Flight Alaska has unveiled plans to expand its air medical base on the Kenai Peninsula. Located alongside the Guardian Flight helicopter base at the Kenai Municipal airport, the new fixed wing base will expand access to lifesaving care for residents in Bristol Bay, Kodiak Island, Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula.

“We are incredibly proud to be expanding our services and increasing access for patients in southern south-central Alaska,” says regional director Delvinee Dillingham. “This is a dynamic air medical operation with both mid-range and long-distance coverage now available through our rotor wing and new fixed wing asset.”

The fixed wing base will be staffed by highly trained and experienced pilots, flight nurses and flight paramedics. The King Air 200 aircraft operated at this base is an incredibly capable twin turboprop with an average travel distance of 1,075 nautical miles. The aircraft is medically configured with the latest avionics and safety features and has a noise-reduced cabin for patient comfort.

According to Dillingham, the expansion of this base will help boost the local economy in the form of job opportunities on the peninsula.