PR95735

LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

-- Air Methods is retrofitting its fleet with the proprietary Skyryse FlightOS

automation hardware and software to make the nation's largest fleet of air

medical aircraft safer to pilot.

Skyryse (

https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3518195-1&h=3314424306&u=https%3A%2F%2Fskyryse.com%2F&a=Skyryse

), a transportation technology company, and Air Methods (

https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3518195-1&h=247479917&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.airmethods.com%2F%3Fgclid%3DCjwKCAjwo8-SBhAlEiwAopc9W0krKhBWEvbLYD3meqDeT_ESWNY6RJGddACp9yj2NIwaQEYoZ6uyXhoCONMQAvD_BwE&a=Air+Methods

), the leading American air medical transport company, today announced a

partnership to retrofit more than 400 single-engine helicopters and fixed-wing

aircraft in the Air Methods fleet with FlightOS, a shared mission to advance

further safety measures to protect pilots and patients. The new Skyryse

FlightOS hardware and software stack replaces overly complex and manual flight

control systems, allowing pilots to control helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft

with a far simpler and safer control interface. Air Methods has also invested

$5 million into Skyryse Series B, bringing the total raised to $205 million,

further backing the LA-based company's automation hardware and software.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEBYVyAvHao

Skyryse's FlightOS state-of-the-art technology provides increased operational

safety in clear or inclement weather using advanced sensors currently only used

in commercial aviation and advanced military aircraft, meaning more missions

are completed, and more lives are saved. The flight system is operational

through every phase of flight and during any situational hazard, designed to

never go offline, including during emergencies. Air Methods will use the

Skyryse technology to elevate air crews' ability to safely perform their core

function of providing immediate, critical care where it is needed most.

"We are excited to partner with Air Methods to bring our innovative technology

to their aircraft and patients who benefit from their remarkable services,"

said Dr. Mark Groden (

https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3518195-1&h=461560840&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fmark-groden%2F&a=+Mark+Groden

), CEO of Skyryse. "We created FlightOS to enhance safety, especially in

critical life-saving missions, where technology unlocks dramatic potential for

all people to receive the safest, most effective medical care available in the

direst situations. The Air Methods partnership highlights the value of our

technologies interoperability and safety across all types of aircraft."

Air Methods will retrofit FlightOS within their diverse and complex fleet of

single-engine helicopters, such as the EC130, AS350, and Bell 407, and

fixed-wing aircraft such as the Pilatus PC-12. Air Methods intends for the

immediate benefits of FlightOS to reduce operational complexity by making the

flight deck more intuitive and standardized.

"As the leading Air Medical provider in the United States, we are always

looking for ways to make rotor and fixed-wing flight safer," said Air Methods

CEO JaeLynn Williams. "Skyryse is a cutting-edge technology that will drive a

step change in the safety of rotor and fixed-wing flight not only for Air

Methods, but for our customers and the entire HEMS industry."

FlightOS is designed to protect a pilot from exiting the flight envelope and

can safely manage the aircraft through various flight emergencies, including

complete engine failures and autorotation.

"The Skyryse Flight Operating System is a transformational technology for the

industry, and we are honored to be partnering with Skyryse," said Air Methods

Executive Vice President of Operations Leo Morrissette. "The results of

deploying this technology will first and foremost improve safety, lower cockpit

workload, and allow our fleet to fully maximize the potential of patient care

in a wide range of aircraft models and types."

About Skyryse

Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, Skyryse is a transportation technology

company built by transportation experts from Airbus, Boeing, Ford, General

Atomics, JetBlue, Moog, SpaceX, Tesla, Uber, the U.S. Military, and Zoox. The

company is building the future of general aviation. Its flagship automation

technology, FlightOS, enables anyone to fly in any aircraft just as safe as the

best pilots in the world on their best day. Skyryse has raised over $250

million to date and is backed by leading investors, including Fidelity

Management & Research Company, Monashee Investment Management, ArrowMark

Partners, Venrock, Eclipse Ventures, Cantos, Stanford University, and Bill

Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor Company.

www.skyryse.com

Media Contact

skyryse@bulleitgroup.com

About Air Methods

Air Methods is the leading air medical service, delivering lifesaving care to

more than 70,000 people every year. With nearly 40 years of air medical

experience, Air Methods is the preferred partner for hospitals and one of the

largest community-based providers of air medical services. United Rotorcraft is

the Company's products division specializing in aeromedical and aerospace

technology design and manufacture. Air Methods' fleet of owned, leased, or

maintained aircraft features more than 450 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.

SOURCE Skyryse