History & Consortium
Our Founding Consortium: A Unique Collaboration
Boston MedFlight was established in 1985 through the collaboration of several leading Boston academic medical centers—uniting to create a nonprofit critical care transport service that prioritized patient needs over competition.
Over time, that original partnership has grown to include some of the region’s most respected academic medical centers including:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Boston Medical Center
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Lahey Hospital & Medical Center
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Tufts Medical Center
Together, these institutions have helped shape Boston MedFlight into what it is today. Since our founding in 1985, we’ve continued to grow, innovate, and expand our mission. The timeline below highlights key milestones in that journey.
Boston MedFlight:
A Timeline of Excellence
Boston MedFlight is established as a rotor-wing transport service by a consortium of Boston hospitals and completes its first patient transport on June 26.
1985
A second helicopter is added and stationed in Plymouth, expanding service to southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the Islands.
1992
Boston MedFlight relocates its main operations from South Boston to Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford to better serve northern New England communities.
1995
Ground transport services are launched in partnership with Armstrong Ambulance, and fixed-wing capabilities begin through a collaboration with Eastern Air Charter—marking the start of a broader critical care transport program.
1998–1999
Boston MedFlight obtains independent licensure for ground critical care transport and adds a third helicopter to its fleet.
2003
Boston MedFlight celebrates 20 years of service and 27,800 patients transported.
2005
A state-of-the-art medical simulation center is established at the Bedford base, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to training and education.
2008
A third base is opened in Lawrence, further extending the reach of critical care services across the region.
2011
Boston MedFlight receives its own FAA Part 135 operator’s certificate and opens a fourth base in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
2017
The organization consolidates operations into a new headquarters facility on the civilian side of Hanscom Field in Bedford.
2018
Boston MedFlight surpasses 90,000 patient transports.
2022
A Cessna Citation CJ4 jet is added to the fleet, expanding long-distance transport capabilities.
2023
Boston MedFlight reaches a major milestone: over 100,000 patients transported since its founding.
2024
The organization celebrates 40 years of critical care transport and lifesaving service.
2025
