Airlift Northwest: Lifesaving Care, Anytime, Anywhere

Airlift Northwest (ALNW) is the Pacific Northwest’s premier air medical and critical care transport service, flying over 4,000+ patients annually across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. Established in 1982 after a tragic house fire in Sitka, Alaska, claimed the lives of three children, Dr. Michael Copass envisioned a faster, more efficient way to provide life-saving care. From that vision, the region’s first air medical transport service was born.

Today, Airlift Northwest operates from eight strategically located bases across the Pacific Northwest—Juneau, Alaska, and Arlington, Bellingham, Bremerton, Davenport, Olympia, Yakima, and Wenatchee, Washington—ensuring rapid access to critical care when every second counts.

Our state-of-the-art Communication Center is the nerve center of our operations. Here, highly skilled Communication Specialists dispatch airborne intensive care units (ICUs) 24/7/365. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, our team works in real-time to bridge life-saving care from the skies to the ground. We bring the innovative medical expertise of UW Medicine to some of the most remote and challenging terrains in the region.

Airlift Northwest partners with first responders, hospital staff, and care providers to deliver unparalleled medical transport services. Whether it’s an accident on a remote trail in the Cascades or a critical emergency in Alaska, our team is ready to provide care whenever and wherever it’s needed. We don’t just transport patients; we bring advanced medical protocols, lifesaving equipment, and highly trained professionals to the people who need it most.

As the only air medical service affiliated with UW Medicine and University of Washington, Airlift Northwest seamlessly integrates cutting-edge medical research into life-saving action. Miles from the nearest hospital, we implement the latest healthcare advancements, ensuring patients receive the highest level of care possible.

Our mission goes beyond transportation; we’re dedicated to strengthening the communities we serve. Whether responding to emergencies or supporting ongoing medical needs, Airlift Northwest is proud to be a trusted partner in the region’s healthcare system.

Adventure and Safety
From the rugged Alaskan wilderness to the towering peaks of the Cascades, the Pacific Northwest is a playground for adventure. But when the unexpected happens—whether it’s an illness or accident—Airlift Northwest is there to ensure you or your loved ones receive the care you need.

With Airlift Northwest, your safety and care are always our top priorities. We’re more than a transport service; we’re a lifeline, bringing hope and healing when it matters most.

Airlift Northwest Communication Center: Precision, Care, and Life-Saving Coordination

The Airlift Northwest (ALNW) Communication Center is the hub of critical care coordination, connecting patients to life-saving medical transport across Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho, and beyond. Handling over 219,069 incoming and outgoing phone and radio communications annually, our team coordinates over 11,000 flight requests each year, facilitating the safe and timely transport of critically ill and injured patients. With 8 bases, 9 flight crews, and a fleet of 13 aircraft (rotors, PC-12s, and jets), we cover some of the most remote and challenging regions in the Pacific Northwest.

Staffed by highly trained Medical Airlift Communication Specialists, the center operates 24/7/365, leveraging cutting-edge technology such as Flight Vector, Symphony Consoles, and P25 radio systems to ensure seamless coordination. From real-time weather assessments and ETA management to detailed interfacility workflows, our team works directly with clinics, hospitals, transfer centers, and EMS partners to provide unparalleled critical care transport services.

What sets us apart is our commitment to professionalism, ethical behavior, and exceptional customer service. Unlike traditional dispatch centers, we do not handle public 911 calls but instead work directly with healthcare providers and EMS agencies to deliver high-stakes medical transport with precision and compassion.

If you're looking for a career where every moment matters, where advanced technology meets life-saving decisions, and where you’ll be part of a team that transforms lives daily, the ALNW Communication Center offers a unique and rewarding opportunity.

Medical Airlift Communications Specialist
The Medical Airlift Communications Specialist plays a critical role in coordinating life-saving flight operations at Airlift Northwest. This position is responsible for managing flight requests, dispatching aircraft, and ensuring seamless communication with all parties involved in patient transport. Specialists adhere to established protocols and demonstrate exceptional multitasking and decision-making skills in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Call Management:

  • Receive and manage emergent and non-emergent calls from physicians, nurses, other communication centers, and the public.
  • Accurately follow call-receiving protocols to route calls to the appropriate transport team, medical director, maintenance personnel, or Administrator on Call.

• Dispatch and Coordination:

  • Exercise sound judgment to prioritize and route transport requests, adhering to established policies and procedures.
  • Coordinate all aspects of transport, including launching flight crews, arranging ground transport, and relaying critical medical and logistical information to referring and receiving facilities.
  • Maintain constant communication with aircraft during flights, logging position reports every 10 minutes and documenting key events in the dispatch record.

• Radio and Communication Operations:

  • Operate multiple radio frequencies to relay medical and operational information, ensuring compliance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and Airlift Northwest protocols.
  • Collaborate with ambulances, law enforcement, fire departments, and rescue agencies to ensure smooth operations.

• Emergency Response:

  • Activate the Post Accident Implementation Plan (PAIP) in the event of an in-flight emergency, serving as the primary contact for law enforcement, fire departments, and rescue teams.
  • Implement the Power Outage Backup Plan as needed to maintain operational continuity.

• Recordkeeping and Documentation:

  • Ensure accurate, complete records of all dispatch activities, including flight statuses, crew assignments, and operational changes.
  • Maintain logs for aircraft and base out-of-service times, position reports, and dispatch records for audit and operational purposes.

• Operational Proficiency:

  • Demonstrate mastery of all communications center equipment, including computer-aided dispatch software, voice recorders, paging systems, and radios.
  • Maintain excellent working knowledge of regional EMS systems to ensure effective response in disasters or large-scale emergencies.

• Customer Service and Teamwork:

  • Provide exemplary customer service in all interactions, including assisting private citizens and insurance programs with quotes and information for non-emergent flights during non-business hours.
  • Actively contribute to a positive team environment, respecting the views of others and maintaining professionalism in all communications.

• Shift and Equipment Management:

  • Participate in shift change briefings, including updates on flights, weather, aircraft status, and any unusual events.
  • Ensure all equipment is operational and work areas are clean and orderly at all times.

• Training and Compliance:

  • Participate in mandatory annual training, including safety, survival, CRM, and OSHA.
  • Uphold Airlift Northwest policies and procedures related to compliance, HIPAA, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

• Other Duties:

  • Take on additional responsibilities as assigned to support the mission and goals of Airlift Northwest.

90% Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) and Intermittent Positions

We are not currently interviewing new applicants at this time. We will resume reviewing applications and conducting interviews later this year, likely mid to late Summer 2025.

We still encourage you to apply if you are interested in working at Airlift Northwest! We always seek dedicated candidates ready to join our mission of saving lives and making a difference, and will stay in touch with any potential applicants as interviews resume later this year.

90% of $26.38 - $37.73 per hour, depending on revelant experience.

As an ALNW/UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website by clicking the following link, University of Washington Employee Benefits