The products division of Air Methods Corp. of Englewood, Colo., is displaying several products for three helicopter manufacturers here at Heli-Expo 2005. Created 10 years ago to allow the products group to offer services and products to outside commercial and military customers, the stand-alone division has grown to a $15 million per year business.

This morning at 11:30 a.m.–just after the exhibit hall opens at 11–Air Methods and Bell Helicopter plan to unveil at the Bell booth (No. 1087) a helicopter they’re billing as “the newest, most advanced air medical aircraft in the world.” To find out what makes it so advanced you’ll have to attend the event, but there may be some clues in the other items Air Methods is displaying here in Anaheim.

At the Eurocopter booth (No. 2049) is an EC 135 that was completed by the Air Method’s product division for its own LifeNet division. Among the equipment and systems installed is a wheeled patient litter, which the company says is the first patient litter designed for the aviation environment. Weighing 61 pounds, it features a collapsible carriage, integral four-point harness and adjustable headrest. Air Methods also installed assorted avionics equipment, air conditioner and tail recognition lights in the EC 135.

At Air Methods’ own booth (No. 881) is an integrated cockpit system with liquid crystal displays and solid-state electronic and heading sensors for the Bell 407. Improved pilot situational awareness, reduced weight and increased mean time between failure rates are expected benefits.

Finally, Air Methods products division provided the multimission interior system and avionics package for the Sikorsky S-70A Firehawk in the Sikorsky static display area (Booth No. 3069).