New AEL Base in Valdosta, GA Gives Residents Faster Access to Advanced Care
7.21.2026
The base strengthens emergency healthcare by connecting rural patients with specialized care when minutes matter.
Residents across South Georgia now have faster access to advanced critical care following the June 29 opening of Air Evac Lifeteam (AEL) 190 in Valdosta. In a region where distance and long drive times can create challenges for critically ill and injured patients to access specialty care, the new base helps connect patients with definitive treatment quickly, when every minute matters.
"In South Georgia, distance has long been one of the biggest barriers to timely access to specialized care," said Donald Mixon, senior program director for AEL 190. "By basing a helicopter in Valdosta, we're bringing advanced critical care closer to patients and helping connect them to the hospitals they need as quickly as possible during life-threatening emergencies."
South Georgia spans hundreds of miles of predominantly rural communities where patients experiencing trauma, stroke, heart attack, respiratory failure and other life-threatening emergencies may need to travel significant distances for specialized care. Portions of the region are more than two hours by ground from a Level I trauma center, making timely access to advanced treatment a challenge during time-sensitive emergencies.
The aircraft helps connect patients to trauma centers, comprehensive stroke centers, cardiac care programs, burn centers and other specialized services that may not be available locally. The base primarily serves more than 360,000 residents across Lowndes, Brooks, Lanier, Berrien, Cook, Clinch, Echols, Atkinson, Coffee, Tift, Irwin, Ben Hill, Colquitt and surrounding counties while also supporting requests throughout South Georgia and North Florida when needed.
Each Air Evac Lifeteam aircraft is staffed by highly trained flight nurses and flight paramedics who provide advanced critical care throughout transport, allowing them to begin specialized medical treatment before patients reach a trauma center or specialty hospital. Flight clinicians provide advanced airway management, ventilator support, continuous cardiac monitoring, critical care medications, blood and blood product transport capabilities, and other specialized interventions for critically ill and injured patients.
AEL 190 is currently operating from a temporary location in partnership with the Valdosta Fire Department while plans move forward for a permanent facility at Valdosta Regional Airport.
Beyond patient transport, AEL 190 supports coordinated emergency response efforts with South Georgia Medical Center, local and regional EMS agencies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies and emergency management partners. The aircraft also provides additional response capacity during natural disasters, mass casualty incidents and other large-scale emergencies, strengthening regional emergency preparedness and supporting the broader healthcare system during times of increased demand.
“This base is about more than adding another aircraft," Mixon said. "It's about strengthening the healthcare network that serves South Georgia. By working alongside hospitals, EMS agencies and our public safety partners, we're helping ensure patients have access to the right level of care as quickly as possible, regardless of where an emergency happens.”
Air Evac Lifeteam selected Valdosta after evaluating regional emergency response patterns, transport distances and healthcare access needs across the region. Positioning an air medical helicopter in Valdosta strengthens the region's emergency healthcare system by expanding access to advanced critical care and helping patients reach specialty hospitals more quickly when time is critical.
The opening of AEL 190 reflects Global Medical Response's ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access in rural and underserved communities by bringing advanced critical care closer to patients when every minute matters.
"In South Georgia, distance has long been one of the biggest barriers to timely access to specialized care," said Donald Mixon, senior program director for AEL 190. "By basing a helicopter in Valdosta, we're bringing advanced critical care closer to patients and helping connect them to the hospitals they need as quickly as possible during life-threatening emergencies."
South Georgia spans hundreds of miles of predominantly rural communities where patients experiencing trauma, stroke, heart attack, respiratory failure and other life-threatening emergencies may need to travel significant distances for specialized care. Portions of the region are more than two hours by ground from a Level I trauma center, making timely access to advanced treatment a challenge during time-sensitive emergencies.
The aircraft helps connect patients to trauma centers, comprehensive stroke centers, cardiac care programs, burn centers and other specialized services that may not be available locally. The base primarily serves more than 360,000 residents across Lowndes, Brooks, Lanier, Berrien, Cook, Clinch, Echols, Atkinson, Coffee, Tift, Irwin, Ben Hill, Colquitt and surrounding counties while also supporting requests throughout South Georgia and North Florida when needed.
Each Air Evac Lifeteam aircraft is staffed by highly trained flight nurses and flight paramedics who provide advanced critical care throughout transport, allowing them to begin specialized medical treatment before patients reach a trauma center or specialty hospital. Flight clinicians provide advanced airway management, ventilator support, continuous cardiac monitoring, critical care medications, blood and blood product transport capabilities, and other specialized interventions for critically ill and injured patients.
AEL 190 is currently operating from a temporary location in partnership with the Valdosta Fire Department while plans move forward for a permanent facility at Valdosta Regional Airport.
Beyond patient transport, AEL 190 supports coordinated emergency response efforts with South Georgia Medical Center, local and regional EMS agencies, fire departments, law enforcement agencies and emergency management partners. The aircraft also provides additional response capacity during natural disasters, mass casualty incidents and other large-scale emergencies, strengthening regional emergency preparedness and supporting the broader healthcare system during times of increased demand.
“This base is about more than adding another aircraft," Mixon said. "It's about strengthening the healthcare network that serves South Georgia. By working alongside hospitals, EMS agencies and our public safety partners, we're helping ensure patients have access to the right level of care as quickly as possible, regardless of where an emergency happens.”
Air Evac Lifeteam selected Valdosta after evaluating regional emergency response patterns, transport distances and healthcare access needs across the region. Positioning an air medical helicopter in Valdosta strengthens the region's emergency healthcare system by expanding access to advanced critical care and helping patients reach specialty hospitals more quickly when time is critical.
The opening of AEL 190 reflects Global Medical Response's ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access in rural and underserved communities by bringing advanced critical care closer to patients when every minute matters.
