Kelly Garringer, flight paramedic at the Honolulu Base, with one of the newly added aircraft.
Hawaiʻi Life Flight is expanding its reach — and its fleet — with the recent addition of three fully refurbished Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft, bringing its fixed-wing fleet total to ten. These twin-engine turboprops are known for their reliability, speed, and range, making them exceptionally well-suited for the unique challenges of inter-island medical transport.
The aircraft upgrades go far beyond fresh paint and polish. Each King Air C90 has been equipped with Garmin G600 avionics, giving pilots the latest in digital cockpit technology and significantly improving flight safety and operational awareness.
“The recent retrofit of our King Air fleet with Garmin G600 avionics marks a significant upgrade in safety and reliability,” said CJ Wetzler, assistant chief pilot. “Advanced digital displays provide enhanced situational awareness, better equipping our crews to make informed decisions—especially in the demanding environment of medevac flying.”
A Commitment to Care and Comfort
One of the new aircraft also features a bariatric access door, a critical improvement for accommodating larger patients and specialized equipment. Across all three aircraft, interior upgrades have been made to improve comfort and safety for both patients and medical crews during flights.
“These upgraded planes increase our capacity and meet our continuing goal to improve our service to Hawaiʻi,” said Tiffany Lightfoot Allen, Regional Director for AMR and Hawaiʻi Life Flight.
Built for Island Life
Founded in 2010, Hawaiʻi Life Flight provides critical care air transport throughout the Hawaiian Islands, ensuring patients in remote or rural areas can access advanced care at tertiary hospitals across the state. The company operates a fleet of both rotor- and fixed-wing aircraft and staffs its flights with advanced critical care clinicians trained to manage complex, high-stakes medical emergencies with speed, precision, and compassion.
As part of the larger AMR (American Medical Response) network, Hawaiʻi Life Flight continues to invest in better technology, aircraft, and people to serve the islands' communities with excellence.
Source: Maui Now