MercyOne Air Med Marks 40 Years With Events

Public celebrations on Nov. 10 in Des Moines, Clinton and Mason City will mark four decades of helicopter medical transport in Iowa.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Nursing Jobs

A white medical helicopter rests on a grassy helipad at the edge of an open Iowa farm field under a wide autumn sky. — MercyOne Air Med will hold public celebrations on Nov. 10 in Des Moines, Clinton and Mason City marking 40 years of helicopter medical transport in Iowa. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

MercyOne Air Med will hold public events in Des Moines, Clinton and Mason City on Nov. 10, 2026, celebrating its 40th anniversary of service. The Clinton event follows the opening of a new MercyOne Air Med base in that city in the second quarter of 2026.

Why it matters

The anniversary highlights the long-running role of helicopter medical transport in getting Iowa patients to care. The program has expanded its operations over time, including a statewide Maternal Transport Team unveiled in November 2024.

MercyOne Air Med completes more than 150 patient missions each month with over 60 flight nurses and flight paramedics and 16 pilots operating from 4 bases. The source does not indicate how these figures have changed since the program began in 1985 or 1986.

The players

MercyOne Air Med

MercyOne Air Med is a helicopter medical transport program operated by MercyOne, a health system serving Iowa patients.

Air Methods

Air Methods is a Colorado-based air medical transport company that partnered with the program at its creation.

The details

The program was created in late 1985 or early 1986 at the former Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, partnering with Air Methods of Colorado. Mercy Air Life officially entered service on Nov. 1, 1986, and began flying Bell 429 helicopters in April 2010.

Late 1985 or early 1986: MercyOne Air Med program created in Des Moines.
August 1986: First flight clinicians hired.
Nov. 1, 1986: Mercy Air Life officially enters service.
April 2010: Program begins flying Bell 429 helicopters.
Nov. 10, 2026, 1 p.m.: 40th anniversary public events held in Des Moines, Clinton and Mason City.

Roadmap

The 40th anniversary traces back to Mercy Air Life's entry into service on Nov. 1, 1986, the program's founding milestone. Since then the operation has grown to four bases and expanded into maternal transport.

Residents in Clinton, Des Moines and Mason City can attend the public anniversary events on Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. The Clinton event is held at the MercyOne Clinton Medical Center Helipad at 1410 N. Fourth Street.

The takeaway

The anniversary underscores how a program that began with a single partnership now operates multiple bases and a statewide maternal transport service. Its staffing of more than 60 flight nurses and flight paramedics and 16 pilots reflects the workforce behind that growth.