“We are excited about getting involved up here with this program, and looking forward to the future,” said Kevin McCullough, owner and president of Aero Air.

Aero Air will operate the fixed-wing flights for Providence Alaska Medical Center's LifeGuard Alaska. LifeGuard also has two helicopters, one based in Kenai and another in Anchorage, that are operated by Evergreen Helicopters.

Archbishop Roger L. Schwietz blessed the two Lear jets and two Beechcraft King Air turbo props — and the patients who will fly in them — with holy water Feb. 2 in the Signature Hangar at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

The blood red and royal blue medevac aircraft fleet represents a $10 million investment, according to McCullough. The aircraft will be operated by 16 pilots and four mechanics in Alaska who work with Aero Air, which is based in Oregon.

According to McCullough, it took Aero Air about four months to respond to LifeGuard Alaska's contract proposal and has outfitted the aircraft for use in Alaska and over international waters.

Aero Air, famous on the West Coast for catering to the jet-set, has 130 employees and operates medevac flights in the Northwest. The company also has an aircraft service business and leases aircraft on the West Coast.