Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Little Rock), "EagleMed joins Air Evac crafts in local rescues Statistics on need for, safety of copter ambulance conflicted"

           Northwest Arkansas is grappling with a growing yet little regulated medical air ambulance industry at the same time a national task force is trying to curb an increasing number of accidents.
           The fatal crash of a helicopter ambulance in Benton County earlier this year helped fuel the national debate about safety. Some national critics believe the emergence of private operators has increased safety risks.
           Benton and Washington counties are served primarily by Air Evac EMS Inc. a privately owned company based in West Plains, Mo., which operates Air Evac Lifeteam from a base in Springdale. The two-county area will gain a second helicopter ambulance service May 23 when the private EagleMed, based in Wichita, Kan., opens a base at Bentonville Municipal Airport, company officials said.