02/20/2026
⭐ LifeLine & Sunrise Air Ambulance Partner with NCCH to Strengthen Emergency Transport ⭐
Yesterday, members of our Northern Cochise Community Hospital team had the opportunity to tour the Sunrise fixed‑wing aircraft, thanks to our partners at LifeLine and GMR. LifeLine transported our staff to the airport, where the Sunrise crew welcomed us aboard, walked us through the aircraft’s capabilities, and even took four of our team members on a short flight.
This fixed‑wing service is an important resource for our community. Sunrise can transport patients from our area to Phoenix, flying in from Springerville. The aircraft can carry more weight, accommodate a family member when appropriate, and fly in weather conditions that helicopters sometimes cannot. Using fixed‑wing transport also helps keep our local helicopter available — avoiding the six‑hour turnaround it takes for a helicopter to fly to Phoenix and back before being able to respond to Tucson transports or local emergencies.
We’re grateful for the collaboration between North County EMS (formerly HCI), LifeLine, GMR, and our NCCH team. Their partnership ensures that critically ill or injured patients can reach advanced care quickly, safely, and efficiently.
At NCCH, we play a vital role in stabilizing patients, identifying emergent needs, and coordinating the right transport — often within minutes. These partnerships are one of the many ways we work to protect and care for our community: our friends, our families, and our neighbors.
Special thanks to everyone who made yesterday possible:
NCCH staff: Dr. Robert Clegg, Kasey Callahan, Lila Tenniswood, Alejandra Zapeda, Dakota Levine, Heather Gabbert, Paige Curry, and Anna Nandino.
LifeLine/GMR team: Sam (pilot), Jason (flight nurse), Ed (flight medic), Shane (manager), and Greg Featherston, who coordinated the entire visit.
North County EMS for transport collaboration.