This free, industry-leading platform is designed to strengthen safety and collaboration across the entire air medical transport community. This tool provides real-time updates on delays or cancellations caused by adverse weather conditions, ensuring critical information is available when it matters most.
Denise Treadwell, AirMed President, said “Safety is the foundation of everything we do, and we developed this risk mitigation tool to create a safer industry.”
Addressing a Critical Safety Challenge
In the early 2000s, a series of fatal incidents involving air medical helicopters prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to convene a summit with helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) operators. Weather reporting gaps and helicopter shopping —when medical institutions contact multiple operators until one accepts a flight previously declined for safety reasons—were among the key issues identified.
Recognizing the need for a centralized source to report weather-related restrictions, in 2007 AirMed launched Weather Turndown, a first of its kind, no cost web-based tool, helping air medical teams' industry wide make informed decisions that prioritize patient care and operational safety.
Innovation for Today’s Air Medical Environment
This year, AirMed introduces its most transformative enhancements yet, with a particular focus on robust data security and an even more intuitive user experience. These changes are designed to streamline reporting, fostering a tool that becomes more powerful and protective as participation grows.
Treadwell adds, “The more members of our community who contribute, the stronger and safer our shared environment becomes.”
Key enhancements include:
- Enhanced Security for data protection
- Mobile Compatibility for phones and tablets
- Drone and Safety Notifications for expanded situational awareness
- API Integration for seamless communication center flight requests
“This platform is truly powered by the contributions of the air medical industry, and we want everyone with valuable information to feel confident that Weather Turndown is built on a technically sound foundation. We’ve made it easy to use and accessible from phones, tablets, and desktop computers, ensuring you can share updates wherever you are,” said Treadwell. “Plus, with our ability to integrate directly with communication centers for seamless posting, it’s simpler than ever to keep the community informed. Ultimately, the tool is at its best when participation is high—every update makes a difference in enhancing safety for crews and patients alike.”
WeatherTurndown.com is live at https://weatherturndown.com/home. Air medical programs are encouraged to log in and begin sharing updates immediately.
About AirMed International : AirMed International is one of the leading air medical services providers in the world. With more than 25,000 missions in all 50 states and 150 countries on six continents, AirMed offers unparalleled medical care and bedside-to-bedside transportation with some of the most experienced air medical crews in the industry.
AirMed owns and operates a fleet of fully customized and permanently medically configured jets, while employing its own dispatch, flight, and medical teams. This vertical integration ensures seamless service and world-class care around the clock. With state-of-the-art aircraft and experienced, respected medical teams, AirMed is able to deliver an uncompromised standard of care that has been recognized through accreditation from CAMTS and EURAMI. AirMed is also a preferred operator for many of the top hospitals around the globe, as well as a contracted carrier for the U.S. Department of Defense. For more info go to www.airmed.com.
AirMed is part of Global Medical Response, the largest air and ground emergency medical service provider in the United States. With 34,000 team members, the organization reaches more than 61% of the U.S. population, providing emergency medical care to 5.5 million patients annually and performing a critical intervention every 91 seconds. For over two decades, GMR’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has partnered with FEMA, DHS, HHS, state agencies, and private partners to deliver rapid, life-saving services during large-scale disasters, acts of terrorism, and public health emergencies, deploying over 80 times across all 10 FEMA regions. Its family of solutions includes ambulance EMS provider American Medical Response (AMR), as well as multiple air EMS organizations including Air Evac Lifeteam, REACH Air Medical Services, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corporation, and AirMed International.
See also |
Global Medical Response 
Air Medical Ambulance Services 
