LifeNet 8-1 Air Ambulance Achieves 15 Years of Service, Based at Rider Jet Center in Hagerstown, MD

Over 15 years of patient transportation and high-quality care, the air medical team positively impacted thousands of lives

HAGERSTOWN, Md., March 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeNet 8-1, a subsidiary of Air Methods and trusted emergency air medical provider serving Maryland, South Central Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, has proudly called Fixed Based Operator Rider Jet Center its home for the past 15 years at Hagerstown Regional Airport. During the decade and a half of service, the air ambulance company has transported more than 7,500 patients.

LifeNet 8-1 provides timely support to first responders and hospitals, offering the community critical care 24/7. Serving as a flying intensive care unit, LifeNet 8-1 offers full critical care capabilities for adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients, and provides fast and safe transportation for emergency medical and trauma events including heart attacks and strokes, burns, and other critical ailments and incidents. The service also carries whole blood on board and can administer it at the scene or in flight, further increasing positive patient outcomes. Supported by Single-pilot IFR operations and specialized approaches into rural hospitals, LifeNet 8-1 ensures top-level care and holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).

"We are so proud of LifeNet and have a great relationship with this valuable community resource," said Ben Rider, President and CEO of Rider Jet Center. "Having such an impactful air ambulance company based here at Rider Jet Center for 15 years is a testament to the character of the entire staff." Ben Rider also confirmed that LifeNet 8-1 is one of the longest tenants at the Fixed Based Operation.

One of those 7,500 patients was Joel Brindle. On April 2, 2015, while checking his mail at the end of his driveway in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, Brindle was struck by a vehicle and thrown more than 100 feet from impact. Suffering chest trauma and a massive hemorrhaging of blood, the LifeNet 8-1 team provided critical, prehospital care, and transported Brindle to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland where a trauma surgeon was on call and assisted in furthering his lifesaving care.

"We are grateful every day for the LifeNet team. Their quick decisions and fast actions made the difference in saving Joel's life," said Brindle's wife, Alicia Brindle. "No doubt, we are thriving today because of the care they provided. We're forever thankful for this lifesaving team and very glad to be celebrating their anniversary."

Sammy Schultz and his family also credit LifeNet 8-1 with saving his life, when in the fall of 2018, at just two months old, Schultz was transported for cardiac and respiratory care. 

"Three flight clinicians responded, one was a trainee. The trainee was so gracious to stay behind so that I could travel with my son to the hospital," said Sammy's mother, Christina Schultz. "My husband Daren and I were so grateful for this. In the chaos and fear after Sammy coded, it was a huge comfort to travel with him in the helicopter to a hospital that was hours away had we driven. We will always value this team as our family for caring for my son like they did."

The Rider Jet Center-based LifeNet 8-1 staff includes 14 full-time people with a rotating team on duty 24/7 consisting of a pilot, certified flight nurse, and certified flight paramedic. The team also has two full-time, on-call aviation maintenance technicians. 

About LifeNet 8-1
LifeNet 8-1, a subsidiary of Air Methods, the nation's leading air medical service, provides expert care through a flight team consisting of a pilot, nurse, and paramedic. The team receives ongoing advanced specialty training, including Level D Full Flight Simulators for pilots and state-of-the-art critical care training for clinicians through Air Methods Ascend. Certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS)—the highest standards in safety, clinical practice, quality assurance, and training in the industry—LifeNet provides hospital-level care during air medical transport, whether from the scene or between medical facilities.

About Rider Jet Center
Rider Jet Center Based is based at Hagerstown Regional Airport in Hagerstown, MD, offering the highest level of aviation service to all aircraft, pilots and passengers. The company also houses the award-winning Grille at Runways Restaurant. Rider Jet Center is a perfect location to remotely base Washington/Baltimore corporate flight departments. Well-over 160,000 sq. ft. of heated hangar space and over 80,000 sq. ft of office space, Rider Jet Center is capable of storing aircraft as large as a Gulfstream or a Global Express and accommodating the necessary staff to support them. The Rider Jet Center terminal and hangars are capable of servicing business and private travelers' wants and needs. Rider Jet Center offers Avfuel petroleum products including Jet-A and 100LL. Weather briefings are available on state-of-the-art WSI weather computers located in the pilot briefing room. Pilot supplies are available in the well-stocked pilot shop including NOAA maps and terminal procedures. See: www.riderjetcenter.com.

SOURCE Rider Jet Center