CALSTAR Air Medical Services, which operates air ambulances throughout Santa Clara, Santa Barbara, and Monterey counties, plans to establish a new air medical base in Santa Cruz County. The base will provide emergency air medical transport services to the communities of Santa Cruz County and the surrounding regions.
“It is still unclear where the base will be, but one possibility is South County,” said CALSTAR Program Director Jeff Horner. The organization hopes to have the new location up and running by the end of summer, Horner said. A team of trained and experienced pilots, flight nurses, paramedics and aircraft maintenance technicians will staff the year-round air medical base.
“We are incredibly proud of this expansion,” said Anna McNamara-Blair, Vice President of Service Delivery. “The opening of this base really comes full circle for me, having grown up in Santa Cruz and began my career in EMS as a volunteer firefighter in the San Lorenzo Valley. I know it will be of great benefit to the community.”
Frequently Asked Questions:
If an AirMedCare Network Provider does not transport you, you will be responsible for payment. Our membership program only covers transports provided by our affiliates.
There is no limit to the number of transports a member may take in a year. Each transport is handled the same way and must be an emergent or time-sensitive transport as determined by a physician (or other appropriate provider) or first responder unaffiliated with AMCN.
With an AirMedCare Network membership, any person or persons who reside under one (residential) roof are covered. In the event we have a member who lives in a duplex or apartment complex, we designate the primary member’s residence/address— that is considered the “one roof”. Undergraduate college students can be covered under their parent’s membership as well as anyone previously residing in the household who is then moved to a permanent care facility.

Global Medical Response to Become First and Only Air Medical Provider Bringing Plasma to Every Corner of Oklahoma
The two-phase process will result in plasma being available on all aircraft in Oklahoma by the end of 2025. Oklahoma City, Okla. (Jan. 30, 2025)

How sick is too sick to fly?
When traveling across the country or around the globe, accidents and illnesses can happen. And if they do, most people will prefer to be close

Why Use a Commercial Airline Medical Escort?
Instead of trying to help a sick or injured family member as they travel on a commercial flight, some people hire companies like AirMedCare Network’s