Boston MedFlight
A Massachusetts nonprofit providing helicopter, fixed-wing, and ground critical-care medical transport.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Boston MedFlight is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit critical-care medical transport organization serving emergency patients throughout Eastern Massachusetts and the wider New England region. Operating under the business name Boston MedFlight and historically associated with the name New England Life Flight, the organization provides both emergency scene response and interfacility transfers for patients whose needs exceed the capabilities of routine paramedic-level ambulance transport. Its service model combines rotary-wing aircraft, fixed-wing aviation, and specialized ground ambulances. The organization was created in 1984 after the American College of Surgeons recommended that Massachusetts develop a helicopter-based patient transport system. A consortium of hospitals subsequently formed to establish the service, and Boston MedFlight transported its first patient on June 26, 1985. Over time, the organization expanded from a single helicopter operation into a multimodal critical-care transport provider. It added a second aircraft in 1992, developed ground critical-care transport in 1998, introduced fixed-wing service in 1999, and later obtained independent licensing for its ground operation and its own Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 air-carrier certificate. Boston MedFlight's clinical crews are structured around a critical-care transport nurse and a critical-care transport specialist, generally a paramedic, on each vehicle. Nurses are expected to maintain or obtain advanced credentials such as Certified Flight Registered Nurse, Critical Care Registered Nurse, and Certified Emergency Nurse qualifications. Transport specialists are expected to obtain Certified Flight Paramedic certification. The organization also maintains its own communications center, staffed by personnel with emergency medical credentials and specialized medical-transport communications training. Pilots hold Airline Transport Pilot-level ratings and are responsible for aviation safety rather than direct medical care. The fleet described in the organization's reference material includes five twin-engine helicopters—four Airbus H145 aircraft and one Eurocopter EC-145—along with eight critical-care ground ambulances and a Beechcraft King Air 200 fixed-wing aircraft. Boston MedFlight operates bases at its Bedford headquarters at Hanscom Field, Plymouth Municipal Airport, Mansfield Municipal Airport, and Lawrence Municipal Airport. These locations extend coverage across the Boston area, southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, and northeastern parts of the state. Boston MedFlight transports patients regardless of their ability to pay. Its financial support has included participation from a consortium of major hospitals, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Tufts Medical Center, and Lahey Hospital & Medical Center. The organization is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems for rotor-wing, fixed-wing, and ground critical-care transport. Its operational development has also emphasized aviation safety and clinical preparedness. Night-vision capability was introduced across the helicopter fleet in 2006, and a medical simulation center began operating at the Bedford base in 2008. Boston MedFlight was a founding participant in the New England Air Alliance, later known as the North East Air Alliance, an information-sharing initiative intended to improve regional air-medical safety. In 2018, the organization moved from Hanscom Air Force Base to a new corporate headquarters at Hangar 12A on the civilian side of Hanscom Field, consolidating its Bedford activities in one facility.
History
Boston MedFlight's origins date to a 1980 recommendation by the American College of Surgeons that Massachusetts develop a helicopter-based medical transport system. In response, a group of hospitals formed a consortium and created the organization in 1984. The service transported its first patient on June 26, 1985, establishing a dedicated emergency aviation resource for patients requiring rapid movement and advanced medical support. The early operation expanded geographically and clinically. A second aircraft was added in 1992 and stationed at Plymouth Municipal Airport, improving access to southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands. The organization reached its 5,000th transported patient in 1993. In 1995, its northern aircraft and offices moved from South Boston to Hanscom Field in Bedford, where the service continued to develop its main operating base. By 1998, Boston MedFlight had created a ground critical-care transport service in partnership with Armstrong Ambulance. Fixed-wing capability followed in 1999 through a partnership with Eastern Air Charter. The organization transported its 20,000th patient in 2002. Further institutional development occurred in the early 2000s. Boston MedFlight obtained an independent license for its ground critical-care service in 2003 and added a third helicopter. A second ground critical-care vehicle was placed at the Plymouth base in 2004. In 2006, night-vision-goggle capability was introduced across the helicopter fleet, a significant operational safety development for nighttime missions. A medical simulation center began operating at the Bedford base in 2008, supporting preparation for complex transport scenarios. The organization marked its 40,000th patient in 2009 and celebrated 25 years of service in 2010. The service network continued to grow during the following decade. In February 2011, Boston MedFlight nurses and paramedics successfully organized with the Massachusetts Nurses Association. The organization opened a Lawrence base later that year, adding coverage in northeastern Massachusetts. In 2015, billing staff moved to an off-base office because of space limitations at the existing facility. In 2016, Massport awarded Boston MedFlight a long-term lease for Hangar 12A on the west ramp of Hanscom Field's civilian side. The same year, Dr. Suzanne K. Wedel, identified in the reference material as one of the organization's founders and its then chief executive and chief medical officer, died on March 30. Boston MedFlight stated that it would continue her service legacy. A major aviation milestone came in January 2017, when Boston MedFlight received its own FAA Part 135 operator certificate. It performed its first independent Part 135 transport in March of that year, reducing its reliance on external aviation operating arrangements. The organization also opened a fourth base, in Mansfield, Massachusetts. In October 2018, it moved out of Hanscom Air Force Base and into the completed Hangar 12A headquarters on the civilian side of Hanscom Field, bringing its Bedford offices and operational functions together. Boston MedFlight's mature operating model includes helicopter, fixed-wing, and ground critical-care transport. Its teams generally pair a critical-care transport nurse with a critical-care transport specialist or paramedic. It operates a communications center at Bedford and uses aviation crews whose pilots hold Airline Transport Pilot-level ratings. The organization has also participated in the New England Air Alliance, later called the North East Air Alliance, with other regional air-medical providers to exchange information and improve safety. Its patient-access model is nonprofit and service-oriented: the organization transports emergency patients regardless of ability to pay and receives support in part from a consortium of major Massachusetts hospitals. It is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems across all three transport modes.
- 2018
Headquarters moves to Hangar 12A
[1]The organization moved from Hanscom Air Force Base to its new consolidated headquarters at Hangar 12A on Hanscom Field's civilian side.
- 2017
Independent FAA Part 135 operations begin
[1]After receiving its own Part 135 certificate, Boston MedFlight performed its first independent Part 135 transport in March.
- 2011
Lawrence base opens
[1]Boston MedFlight opened an operating base in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
- 2008
Medical simulation center begins operation
[1]A medical simulation center opened at the Bedford base to support clinical training.
- 2006
Night-vision capability added
[1]Night-vision-goggle capability was introduced across the helicopter fleet.
- 2003
Independent ground-service license obtained
[1]Boston MedFlight obtained independent licensure for ground critical-care transport and added a third helicopter.
- 1999
Fixed-wing service introduced
[1]The organization developed fixed-wing transport through a partnership with Eastern Air Charter.
- 1998
Ground critical-care service developed
[1]Boston MedFlight developed a ground critical-care transport service in partnership with Armstrong Ambulance.
- 1992
Second aircraft added
[1]A second aircraft was stationed at Plymouth Municipal Airport to expand coverage in southeastern Massachusetts and the Cape and Islands.
- 1985
First patient transported
[1]Boston MedFlight completed its first patient transport on June 26.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit, hospital-supported critical-care transport provider offering multimodal emergency response and interfacility transfer regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
Rotary-wing medical transport · 1985
Helicopter critical-care transport
Boston MedFlight provides emergency scene response and interfacility transport using a fleet of twin-engine helicopters. The helicopter service is designed for patients requiring critical-care-level clinical support and rapid movement, with medical teams consisting of a critical-care transport nurse and a critical-care transport specialist. The described fleet includes Airbus H145 aircraft and an earlier Eurocopter EC-145.
Fixed-wing medical transport · 1999
Fixed-wing critical-care transport
The fixed-wing service supports longer-distance or otherwise appropriate critical-care transfers by aircraft. Boston MedFlight developed this capability in 1999 and is described as operating a Beechcraft King Air 200. The service forms part of the organization's integrated air-and-ground transport system and is accredited alongside its rotor-wing and ground operations.
Specialized ambulance transport · 1998
Ground critical-care transport
Boston MedFlight's ground service transports critically ill or injured patients by specialized ambulance, including transfers that do not require aircraft or that involve coordination with an air mission. The service was developed in 1998, independently licensed in 2003, and is staffed by Massachusetts-certified emergency medical technicians working with the critical-care medical crew.
Emergency medical communications
Medical transport communications
The organization operates its own communications center at its Bedford headquarters. Communications specialists are required to hold emergency medical credentials and are expected to complete specialized flight-communications training, supporting dispatch, coordination, and safety for Boston MedFlight's air and ground missions.
Brand decisions
2018
Consolidate Bedford operations at Hangar 12AStrategyBackground
The organization's existing Hanscom Air Force Base facilities had become insufficient for its expanded operations.
Action taken
Boston MedFlight moved into a new corporate headquarters on the civilian side of Hanscom Field in October.
Aftermath
The relocation brought the Bedford headquarters and associated operations together in a purpose-built facility.
2017
Bring air operations under an independent FAA certificateStrategyBackground
Boston MedFlight had expanded from helicopter service into a multimodal provider and sought its own aviation operating authority.
Action taken
The organization received an FAA Part 135 operator certificate in January and completed its first independent Part 135 transport in March.
Aftermath
The certificate enabled Boston MedFlight to conduct qualifying air transports under its own operating authority.
Sources1 sources
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