After establishing service in January, medevac company LifeMed says it will only serve Dutch Harbor seasonally.
This year the base will be open for A-season fishing; in the future, the company hopes to stay longer.
But before a year-round base is feasible, Erika Fenn, a business specialist for LifeMed, says there are logistics that need to be resolved.
"Right now we don’t have a permanent hanger," Fenn said. "Which is problematic for our airplane. It’s just sitting out there in the weather and obviously here in Dutch, it’s pretty bad weather a lot of the time."
LifeMed is competing with year round medevac company Guardian. For $49 a year, LifeMed Alaska offers a program that covers all LifeMed transport fees not covered by the patients primary health insurance.
When not actively engaged in transport, LifeMed’s staff assists in the Iliuliuck Family & Health Services Clinic and provides training.
In the past three months, the company has done more than 20 flights.
LifeMed’s plane will leave the island May 1.
