SkyLife 34 Brings Flying ICUs to Eastern Contra Costa County

Key Takeaways

• SkyLife 34, a new medical helicopter base, opened at Byron Airport in eastern Contra Costa County.
• The base is operated by Air Methods and primarily serves Kaiser Permanente hospital patients.
• Contra Costa County EMS dispatch will include SkyLife 34 once the agreement is finalized.
• The crew includes a pilot, flight nurse, flight paramedic, and on-call aviation mechanic.
• Air Methods now has 28 bases in California, serving more than 100,000 patients a year.

New Base Brings Flying ICUs to Byron

Eastern Contra Costa County has a new medical helicopter base at Byron Airport. Air Methods launched SkyLife 34 to cut response times and deliver advanced critical care by air.

The base's opening was announced on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026. "Each new base enhances our ability to respond quickly, support communities across the region, and ensure patients can reach the specialized care they need," said Vanessa Hayflich, regional director of Air Methods, in a press release.

Hayflich, Air Methods PacWest Regional Director, said the opening reflects Air Methods' continued investment in California. "The opening of SkyLife 34 reflects Air Methods' continued investment in California and our commitment to building a strong, connected air medical ecosystem that improves access to lifesaving care," she said. SkyLife 34 joins 27 other Air Methods-operated bases across the state, strengthening the company's integrated air medical ecosystem.

The helicopters function as "hospital-level flying intensive care units," according to the company. They carry healthcare technology, medications, and blood for use at the scene or in flight. Blood carried on the helicopter is a resource proven to improve survival in critical cases.

What SkyLife 34 Offers

SkyLife 34 is staffed by a pilot, a flight nurse, a flight paramedic, and an on-call aviation mechanic. The team handles trauma, heart attacks, strokes, breathing emergencies, and childbirth complications.

All crew members complete rigorous annual training. Air Methods pilots train using Level D Full Flight Simulators, the most advanced simulation technology approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and used by most commercial airlines. Flight nurses and paramedics undergo extensive, ongoing training in trauma, cardiac and stroke care, respiratory emergencies, and high-risk obstetrics. Clinical crew members receive advanced hands-on instruction through Ascend, Air Methods' multi-accredited critical care clinical education program, ensuring they consistently perform at the top of their licensure.

Air Methods says helicopters provide speed and services that ground ambulances cannot, such as sedation during transport. The crew also uses the ZOLL AutoPulse NXT device, which delivers uninterrupted, high-quality chest compressions during flight, freeing clinicians to provide other life-saving interventions for patients in cardiac arrest.

County EMS Role

Contra Costa County Emergency Medical Services director Marshall Bennett said the base mainly serves Kaiser Permanente patients across the region. Once the company's agreement with the county is finalized, SkyLife 34 will also be available for dispatch within Contra Costa County.

Local Context

The new base is located at Byron Airport, serving the eastern part of Contra Costa County. It joins an existing air medical base at Buchanan Field Airport in Concord, operated by Reach Air.

Background

Air Methods is the nation's leading air medical service with more than 45 years of experience. The company's Ascend education program provides advanced training for critical care nurses and paramedics. Air Methods celebrated 35 years of community air medical service in May.

The Ascend program is multi-accredited and uses high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality, and cadaver labs to provide best-in-class training. Air Methods is the preferred partner for hospitals and one of the largest community-based providers of air medical services.

Conclusion

The opening of SkyLife 34 strengthens emergency medical infrastructure in Contra Costa County. Residents in eastern communities now have faster access to specialized care that can improve survival in critical situations.