29-Jan-2025 Source: LifeFlight of Maine
LifeFlight of Maine is honored to be this year’s recipient of Vertical Aviation International’s (VAI) “Salute to Excellence Safety Award,” which they announced recently in a press release. The award recognizes LifeFlight’s “exceptional contributions to enhancing safety and safety awareness in vertical aviation operations.”
“Facing the challenges of Maine’s complex terrain and harsh weather, the organization has significantly developed the state’s air medical infrastructure, creating a comprehensive system that includes hospital and community helipads, emergency landing areas, and advanced weather-monitoring systems to support safe operations,” VAI’s press release announcing the award stated.
At LifeFlight of Maine, safety is at the core of everything we do and has been since the organization was founded in 1998. Safety briefings, safety committees, safety trainings, post-incident safety reviews, and uncompromising standards for each discipline were coded into the DNA of LifeFlight of Maine over the years and persist to this day. A culture of safety permeates LifeFlight’s critical care services across its helicopter, airplane, and ground transport programs. LifeFlight has safely cared for and transported more than 40,000 patients from all corners of the state.
“We are honored to be recognized with such a meaningful award,” said Joe Kellner, CEO of LifeFlight of Maine. “In 1998, the top priority for LifeFlight of Maine founders Tom Judge and Dr. Norm Dinerman was to create a system and culture dedicated to safety. They fostered a culture of transparency, openness, and honesty, that is still seen every day at LifeFlight. I am grateful for the dedication of our crews, administration, and leadership teams for their attention to detail and putting safety at the forefront of every patient transport. We are also thankful for the families who entrust us with the safe care of their loved ones — it’s a responsibility we don’t take lightly.”
LifeFlight Aviation Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of LifeFlight of Maine, was established in 2022 to operate and maintain LifeFlight of Maine’s aircraft. LifeFlight Aviation Services is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 Air Carrier and employs a team of pilots, maintenance technicians, and aviation experts. This distinction allows LifeFlight to maintain direct control over the quality and safety of its world-class aviation operations.
LifeFlight of Maine will receive the Salute to Excellence Safety Award at Verticon, a vertical aviation conference and tradeshow, that is taking place March 10-13, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. More than 15,000 industry professionals are expected to attend.
Vertical Aviation International, which was founded in 1948, is the world’s leading membership association for the vertical aviation industry, which includes helicopters and unmanned aircraft systems, such as drones. The association is an advocate for the safety, professionalism, innovation, and economic viability of the vertical aviation industry across the globe. VAI has more than 16,500 members.