Atlanta’s hospitals provide lifesaving care for Georgians all throughout the state and beyond — in metro Atlanta and across the South. People and their loved ones who have found themselves in emergency situations throughout the region have relied on our hospitals’ critical care.

Grady Health System is no exception and officially launched Grady Air, the hospital’s brand-new medical aircraft, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fulton County Executive Airport on Wednesday.

“The ability to provide the care that these folks need expeditiously as possible and decreasing the transport time to Grady is what is going to save lives,” said Dr. Ryan Fransman, medical director of Grady Air at Grady Health System, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Grady Health System launched Grady Air, the hospital’s brand-new medical aircraft, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Fulton County Executive Airport. (Courtesy of Grady Health System)

Credit: Grady Health System

icon to expand image

Credit: Grady Health System

Developed in partnership with Air Methods, the “mobile intensive care unit” will be staffed entirely with Grady personnel, which includes nurses, paramedics, and critical care specialists.

“This is going to increase time for critical care.”

Pilots from Air Methods, a private helicopter company that provides emergency medical services to over 100,000 clients, will man the craft.

“As a company committed to delivering critical care when and where it’s needed most, we’re proud to partner with Grady on this vital initiative,” Brandon Ryan, vice president of business development at Air Methods, said in a news release.

Developed in partnership with Air Methods, the “mobile intensive care unit” will be staffed entirely with Grady personnel, which includes nurses, paramedics and critical care specialists. (Courtesy of Grady Health System)

Credit: Grady Health System

icon to expand image

Credit: Grady Health System

Overall, Grady is looking forward to increased “access and outreach to patients we initially did not have an arm to extend to,” according to Fransman, as previous transport times were “basically unacceptable.”

“It’s an ICU in the sky,” he said.

In addition to the new aircraft, Grady Memorial Hospital will receive emergency medical aircraft from across the region.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The G700 (top) and G800 perform a flyover during an event to celebrate the newly certified Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation G700. Aerospace is Georgia's second-largest industry, and the No. 1 sector for exports, including Gulfstream jets. (Stephen B. Morton/AJC 2024)

Credit: Stephen B. Morton for The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Featured

An aerial view captures a large area under construction for a new data center campus on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Developed by QTS, the data center campus near Fayetteville is one of the largest under construction in Georgia. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez