UC Health Air Care

Established 1984, University of Cincinnati Hospital (UC Health) Air Care & Mobile Care provides the Greater Cincinnati area with advanced transport medicine. Operated by Metro Aviation since 2012

UC Health Air Care, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a significant history as an air medical transport service. Its initial flight occurred on April 1, 1979, making it one of the pioneering EMS helicopter programs in the United States. This early operation utilized a D model A-Star, notable as the first of its type to be employed for air medical transport in the U.S. While flight operations began in 1979, some sources indicate a more formalized establishment or significant reorganization under the name "Air Care" around 1984. Early operations featured a transverse loading system and a single flight nurse attending to patients, sometimes requiring creative solutions due to limited space. An Allouette III helicopter also served as a spare in the early 1980s, primarily for its strong performance in higher altitudes, though its slower speed presented operational challenges.

Over the years, UC Health Air Care continually evolved its fleet and operations to enhance patient care and safety. In 1983, Omniflight Helicopters secured the Air Care contract, contributing to the design of the first fore-aft loading system which improved patient access and utilized available space more efficiently. Omniflight also utilized Bell LongRangers for maintenance relief. By 1986, Rocky Mountain Helicopters, now operating as Air Methods, took over the contract and has maintained a long-standing partnership with UC Health Air Care. Due to increasing patient transports, a second A-Star was trialed in 1987 and later permanently stationed in Iowa in 1988 as "AirCare II" to improve response times for northern Iowa counties.

As of 2025, UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care fleet primarily includes Airbus EC145e helicopters, known for their advanced medical interiors, improved patient access, and enhanced safety features like all-glass cockpits with night vision goggle compatibility. These helicopters are equipped with sophisticated systems for critical care transport, including advanced monitors and ventilators. In more recent developments, UC Health also added a fixed-wing aircraft to its air ambulance fleet around October 2022, expanding its capability to transport patients over longer distances and in varying weather conditions. The service maintains bases to ensure rapid response across the Greater Cincinnati area and beyond, with a focus on bringing world-class critical care to patients in need.