AIRM Air Methods Corp.

Air Methods' Products Division Receives Contract from L.A. County Fire Department for Third FIREHAWK Aircraft DENVER, April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Air Methods Corporation today announced its Products Division has received a$1.9 million contract from the Los Angeles County Fire Department to modify a Sikorsky S-70A into a FIREHAWK(TM) Multi-Mission Helicopter. The S-70A FIREHAWK(TM) is based on the successful UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter utilized by the U.S. Army. The aircraft has a maximum gross weight of 23,000 lbs., can cruise at 155 knots, and is equipped with specialized systems and equipment making it capable of performing a variety of missions including airborne firefighting, swift water and blue water search and rescue, emergency medical transport, fire crew transportation, and internal or external cargo transport. In the firefighting role, the aircraft is able to precisely deliver 1,000 gallons of water using a belly-mounted tank. The tank is filled through a retractable snorkel operated by the pilot that allows the aircraft to refill from almost any available water source near the fire area to maximize delivery rate. The power provided by the two turboshaft engines gives the aircraft a large margin ofsafety when operating over fire sites as well as rescue operations and cargo transports. Air Methods will provide the multi-mission interior system and a significant upgrade of the flight instruments, including a glass cockpit and additional navigation and communications systems. The aircraft will be outfitted with Air Methods' multi-mode pilot control system which allows the pilot to manage all of the systems for firefighting, rescue hoist, or external cargo missions by switching from one operating mode to another on the control panel. This system maximizes aircraft operational safety by allowing the pilot's hands to be kept on the controls during critical periods. Beginning in May 2004, the aircraft will be modified at Air Methods' facility in Englewood, Colorado, and is expected to be delivered to the L.A. County Fire Department in the first half of 2005. L.A. County Fire Department has operated two FIREHAWK aircraft since 2001 performing over 7,836 missions accumulating 1,890 hours. During the most recent fires in Los Angeles, the two FIREHAWKs dropped over 400,000 gallons of water during a critical two-day period. In addition, the FIREHAWK aircraft have performed numerous EMS transports including a medical evacuation of four critical pediatric patients and seven attending paramedics in a single flight out of an accident scene where a car had crashed into an aqueduct. "The authorization from the county for this third FIREHAWK aircraft provides further testimony to the capabilitiesof this extraordinary aircraft," stated Arthur Torwirt, Vice President of Air Methods' Products Division. Air Methods Corporation (http://www.airmethods.com/) is a leader in emergency aeromedical transportation, medical services and technology. The Air Medical Services Division is the largest provider of air medical transport services for hospitals. The LifeNet Division is the largest community-based provider of air medical services. The Products Division specializes in the design and manufactureof aeromedical and aerospace technology. The Company's fleet of owned, leased or maintained aircraft features over 180 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Forward Looking Statements: This news release includes certain forward- looking statements, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the size, structure and growth of the Company's air medical services andproducts markets; the collection rates for patient transports; the continuation and/or renewal of air medical service contracts; the acquisition of profitable Products Division contracts and other flight service operations; the successful expansion of the community-based operations; successful integration of RMH operations and other matters set forth in the Company's public filings. CONTACTS: Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer, (303) 792-7413 or RCG Capital Markets Group, Inc. at (480) 675-0400. Please contact Christine Clarke at (303) 792-7579 to be included on the Company's fax and/or mailing list. DATASOURCE: Air Methods Corporation CONTACT: Aaron D. Todd, Chief Executive Officer of Air Methods Corporation, +1-303-792-7413; or RCG Capital Markets Group, Inc., +1-480-675-0400, for Air Methods Corporation Web site: http://www.airmethods.com/

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