SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REACH Air Medical Services, in partnership with Outerlink Global Solutions and Metro Aviation, will launch Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), exponentially expanding their tracking, communication and overall safety practices. An all-encompassing new technology, IRIS provides global coverage and will allow REACH to record significantly greater amounts of aircraft data. The data will be processed by onboard computers and filtered directly to the company's Communications Center every ten seconds. Outerlink adds customizable analytics software to the equipment, which will enable REACH to retain and evaluate their encrypted data. High-speed, uninterrupted connection and immediate air-to-ground, ground-to-air and air-to air communications will further improve the highly-respected safety standards REACH already employs with its fleet.
Sean Russell, President of REACH Air Medical Services, says, "We are pleased to partner with IRIS on this important component for our safety system. Our newly developed Operational Control Center will use this technology to track, monitor and communicate in real time with our aircraft, which will further support the safety of our crews and our patients. Also, as part of our Flight Operational Quality Assurance program, the ability to trend mechanical and flight operation patterns will help us continually improve our performance."
Outerlink and Metro are both known as market-driven leaders in providing the helicopter industry with multiple tracking tools and fully integrated flight data recording. IRIS' technology is similar to that used by the military and is the first commercial helicopter solution to employ this type of situational awareness technology.
Fred Buttrell, President and CEO of Air Medical Group Holdings, REACH's parent company, stated, "We are excited to take this next step in our safety evolution by providing real-time integration to our company's Communications Center. The technology will let us know that our aircraft are healthy and that they are being flown safely."
IRIS is designed to offer virtually limitless possibilities and will evolve as new industry needs arise, expanding and adapting to keep pace. Its ability to store multiple apps based on individual user requirements will further secure its position on the forefront. The company looks forward to Q4 and to moving forward with the help of the most technologically advanced system of its kind.
About REACH Air Medical Services
REACH Medical Holdings, LLC, headquartered in Santa Rosa, CA, operates REACH Air Medical Services and Cal-Ore Life Flight, providing critical care air and ground transport service to communities throughout California, Oregon and Southern Texas. The company employs hundreds of highly-trained nurses, medics, pilots and aircraft maintenance technicians to provide service to patients with an extensive fleet of medically equipped helicopters, airplanes and ground ambulances. REACH and Cal-Ore Life Flight are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS), which is the gold standard for patient care and safety for air medical transport services. For more information, visit REACHair.com.
About Outerlink Global Solutions
Outerlink Global Solutions is a first-responder communications provider for M2M applications including voice, text, satellite tracking and efficiency diagnostics for mixed air, ground and utility mobile fleet operators. Outerlink was founded in 1992 as a satellite tracking provider for aviation service organizations and acquired by Metro Aviation in 2014. Outerlink Global Solutions is focused on providing organizations with mobile assets with an integrated platform that improves tracking, communications and efficiency with unparalleled redundancy. For more information, visit Outerlink.com.