Established 1984, the University of Tennessee (UT) Medical Center LifeStar HEMS program is currently operating two EC135 and three Bell 407 helicopters from 5 bases strategially located in a circle around Knoxville. The bases and callsigns are: Morristown (UT Lifestar 1), Rockwood (UT Lifestar 2), Sevierville-Gatlinburg (UT Lifestar 3), Jacksboro (UT Lifestar 4) and Sweetwater (UT Lifestar 5). Little information is available where this brand new and stunning looking H130 will be based and which aircraft it will replace, and/or if more units are on order.

Originally delivered to ERA Helicopters as N512LD in January 2007, this A109E Power is maintained by Precision Aircraft Services for the Meriwether County Aviation Task Force. The helicopter works with the Meriwether County Sheriff's Department in the state of Georgia covering Merriwether County's 503 square miles for search and rescue and other critical missions.

Former US Army 86-24511, this Blackhawk was registered to KIT Helicopter Operations in May 2024, and has the KIT HeliOps logo on the cowling. Founded in 2019, KIT Helicopter Operations began adding Blackhawks to their fleet in 2022 to offer light, medium, and heavy lift capabilities to external load and firefighting clients.

What can not be seen in this picture is the latest purpose of this helicopter: firefighting! During the VAI Verticon 2025 show, N850AR was presented with a 5000 Liter / 1320 US-Gallon watertank developped by australian company Helitak. VIH Helicopters, together with Milestone Aviation, is pioneering the use of former Oil&Gas S-92's in the firefighting role and received FAA certification for the expandable, belly-mounted tank in 2024. Thanks to the civilian certification of the S-92, the cabin can be used to transport firefighters, a privilege e.g. a civilized ex US Army UH-60 doesn't have.

As of March 2025, Air Center Helicopters - founded in 1982 - operates among others some 20 EC225 / H225 helicopters for various US Government contracts. To name a few, the US Navy uses the helis to carry out Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP) of its vessels, while in 2022, the USAF selected ACH to train its Pararescuemen in offshore rescues. N576AC is a 2012 built airframe initially flying for Bristow as G-ZZSK and joined ACH in November 2018. It has seen at least two overseas deployments: one to the Bahamas in 2019 after Hurricane Dorian and the 2nd to Niger, West Africa around April of 2022.

Seen here lifting off after the Verticon 2025 show is the 1st AW169 of Parkview Samaritan. It is based in Rochester, Indiana since September 2024 and operates as "Samaritan 2". It was announced during the mentioned Verticon exhibition that Parkview ordered a 2nd AW169 for a planned delivery in the 2nd quarter of 2026. The new heli is destined to replace the current "Samaritan 1", a 1991 built AS-365N2 with c/n 6425 and registration N89SM. "Samaritan 1" is based at the Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Until recent, the Kern County Fire Department was relying on two fomer US Army UH-1's. With the introduction of this 2024 built Bell 412EPX in December of 2024, one of the old UH-1's nicknamed "Helicopter 408" (registered N408KC) was officially retired the same month. The KCFD operates out of Keene Heliport southeast of Bakersfield, California. It is believed that the 2nd UH-1 (registered N407KC), is still active and will be operated alongside the new state-of-the-art Bell 412, which is equipped with a DART "Fire Attack" water tank and snorkel.

In July 2024, Airbus delivered the 1st of four H160 to PHI, marking the beginning of this helicopter type's operation in the US. N672P - shown here departing the VAI Verticon 2025 Exhibition - is the 2nd production H160. After a trial, training and introduction phase of some 300 flight hours, PHI started to operate the H160 commercially for oil giant Shell on March 6, 2025, becoming the first operator worldwide to use the type for offshore missions. PHI's other H160's are registered N673P, N674P and N675P, and all four are / will be based at Houma-Terrebonne Airport.

Officially announced at Verticon 2025, the Airbus H140 will be a fit between the H135 and H145. Powered by an uprated Safran Arrius 2ES engine giving 7% more power with the same fuel burn as the H135. Cabin volume increases 20% with fewer internal obstructions than the H135 in answer to suggestions from EMS and HEMS users. The prototype H140 (D-HEEY) has been flying since June 2023.

This aircraft was converted to be uncrewed and is called the R550X by Rotor Technologies.

Small KIT HeliOps logo on the cowling. FAA incorrectly lists the c/n as 8624511, which is in fact its former US Army serial number (86-24511).