Air Evac Lifeteam Pilot Hits Milestone After Surpassing 2,500 Flights
9.29.2025
Tom Lecompte earned his 2,500 Flight Wings, joining an elite group of experienced pilots. Of the nearly 700 AEL pilots, less than 2% have achieved this milestone.
In the high-stakes world of emergency medical services, precision and readiness are non-negotiable. For an air EMS pilot, every flight translates directly into enhanced experience. With each mission, they navigate complex conditions, collaborate across emergency teams, and respond swiftly to critical patient needs. That cumulative exposure builds not only technical proficiency, but the kind of calm, capable leadership that defines excellence in air medical service.
Air Evac Lifeteam (AEL), a division of Global Medical Response, is proud to celebrate AEL Campbellsville Pilot Tom Lecompte for earning his 2,500 Flight Wings, joining an elite group of experienced pilots. Of the nearly 700 AEL pilots, less than 2% have achieved this milestone.
"Tom has been a pillar of AEL 43 for the past two decades, and his passion for his crews shows through fair and friendly mentorship,” says Don Cunningham, regional director for AEL. “2,500 successful patient flights is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are all proud to say we know and work alongside someone as dedicated as he is.”
The Road to EMS
Lecompte began his aviation career with the US Army more than 40 years ago. Through his service as a scout pilot, platoon leader, and instructor pilot, he built a foundation of skill and resilience — shaped in some of the most demanding and high-pressure environments. After seven years in the military, Lecompte transitioned to civilian work as a missionary pilot and even briefly worked as a pilot for broadcast news stations.
Feeling compelled to leave commercial flying and rejoin a mission of service, Lecompte joined AEL Southern Indiana as an air EMS pilot in 2004 and shortly after transferred to the new base in Campbellsville, where he continues to serve today as base pilot supervisor.
“I have had the pleasure to experience many different types of aviation jobs, and air EMS has hands down been the most rewarding,” said Lecompte. “I love collaborating with my fellow crew members and knowing I am helping people in their worst moments is the ultimate job satisfaction.”
Providing Lifesaving Care for the Community
Founded in 1985 to reach rural patients who couldn’t afford to wait, Air Evac Lifeteam has grown into one of the nation’s leading helicopter EMS providers, with more than 150 bases across 18 states. Roughly 40% of Kentucky’s population lives in rural areas, underscoring the need for air EMS resources. Taylor County, like much of rural Kentucky, benefits greatly from these services.
“We are proud to have provided critical air EMS services to Taylor County for the past 21 years,” said Timothy Jenkins, associate vice president for AEL. “Pilots like Tom represent the core mission of AEL – bring lifesaving care where it’s needed most.”
Reflecting on his experience, Lecompte shares his advice for future and fellow pilots: “Always remember that flying is a privilege. Earning that privilege requires a deep commitment to learning and mastering the skills necessary to fly safely and effectively. Oftentimes, you are someone’s lifeline.”
Air Evac Lifeteam (AEL), a division of Global Medical Response, is proud to celebrate AEL Campbellsville Pilot Tom Lecompte for earning his 2,500 Flight Wings, joining an elite group of experienced pilots. Of the nearly 700 AEL pilots, less than 2% have achieved this milestone.
"Tom has been a pillar of AEL 43 for the past two decades, and his passion for his crews shows through fair and friendly mentorship,” says Don Cunningham, regional director for AEL. “2,500 successful patient flights is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are all proud to say we know and work alongside someone as dedicated as he is.”
The Road to EMS
Lecompte began his aviation career with the US Army more than 40 years ago. Through his service as a scout pilot, platoon leader, and instructor pilot, he built a foundation of skill and resilience — shaped in some of the most demanding and high-pressure environments. After seven years in the military, Lecompte transitioned to civilian work as a missionary pilot and even briefly worked as a pilot for broadcast news stations.
Feeling compelled to leave commercial flying and rejoin a mission of service, Lecompte joined AEL Southern Indiana as an air EMS pilot in 2004 and shortly after transferred to the new base in Campbellsville, where he continues to serve today as base pilot supervisor.
“I have had the pleasure to experience many different types of aviation jobs, and air EMS has hands down been the most rewarding,” said Lecompte. “I love collaborating with my fellow crew members and knowing I am helping people in their worst moments is the ultimate job satisfaction.”
Providing Lifesaving Care for the Community
Founded in 1985 to reach rural patients who couldn’t afford to wait, Air Evac Lifeteam has grown into one of the nation’s leading helicopter EMS providers, with more than 150 bases across 18 states. Roughly 40% of Kentucky’s population lives in rural areas, underscoring the need for air EMS resources. Taylor County, like much of rural Kentucky, benefits greatly from these services.
“We are proud to have provided critical air EMS services to Taylor County for the past 21 years,” said Timothy Jenkins, associate vice president for AEL. “Pilots like Tom represent the core mission of AEL – bring lifesaving care where it’s needed most.”
Reflecting on his experience, Lecompte shares his advice for future and fellow pilots: “Always remember that flying is a privilege. Earning that privilege requires a deep commitment to learning and mastering the skills necessary to fly safely and effectively. Oftentimes, you are someone’s lifeline.”
