US air medical operators Boston MedFlight and Life Flight Network have ordered a total of eight new Airbus helicopters to modernise and expand their fleets. Boston MedFlight has selected three H145s, while Life Flight Network has ordered five H135s for emergency medical missions and the transport of critically ill and injured patients.

Boston MedFlight’s latest order brings the total number of H145 helicopters it has purchased over time to 12. The three new aircraft will arrive over the coming years, replacing existing helicopters and supporting gradual fleet growth. The nonprofit organisation serves New England and has transported more than 115,000 patients over more than 41 years. Its helicopter fleet now consists entirely of Airbus aircraft.

Boston MedFlight CEO Maura Hughes highlighted that the H145 meets the demands of flying in the region, while its cabin accommodates the equipment needed to provide critical care during transport. The latest H145 variant features a five-bladed main rotor, increasing useful load by 150 kilograms while simplifying maintenance and providing a smoother flight for patients and medical crews.

Life Flight Network’s order for five H135s builds on the purchase of three aircraft agreed in 2025, bringing its total orders for the type to eight. The new helicopters will support medical operations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, where vast distances, mountain ranges and scattered rural communities make access to emergency healthcare more challenging.

Life Flight Network CEO Ben Clayton emphasised that investment in the fleet represents an investment in the patients and communities that depend on its services. The H135 features a climate-controlled cabin and a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, which enhances safety during patient loading. Airbus also states that the type has the lowest acoustic footprint in its class.

Both helicopter types are equipped with Airbus’s Helionix digital avionics suite and a four-axis autopilot, reducing pilot workload. The new orders will support the renewal of both operators’ capacity to provide medical care and patient transport in the eastern and western United States.