Press Release:

October 7, 2025

Contacts: Kayla Dunlap, Port of Grays Harbor, Director of Government & Public Affairs - kdunlap@portgrays.org or 360-581-4776

Natalie Hannah, Life Flight Network, Public Relations Manager - nhannah@lifeflight.org or 503-899-7421

Hoquiam, WA – Committed to providing critical care transport to rural southwest Washington, Life Flight Network was joined by business leaders, emergency responders and elected officials on Friday as they celebrated the completion of their new hangar at Bowerman Airport.

Life Flight Network began life-saving operations out of Bowerman in June 2023 but had been responding to patients in the community from other Western Washington bases for many years. As the demand for emergency air medical services in the region grew, it became clear that dedicated air medical assets were needed. In July 2024, Life Flight Network announced plans to invest in a new helicopter hangar at Bowerman. They had previously been leasing hangar space to support their Grays Harbor operations. Local contractor Rognlin’s, Inc. began construction of the hangar in December 2024.

“We are incredibly proud to call Life Flight a partner here at the Port of Grays Harbor,” shared Port of Grays Harbor Commissioner Stan Pinnick. “We look forward to their continued service and success here at Bowerman as they provide a critical, life-saving capability for our entire region.”

“The completion of our new hangar at Bowerman Airport represents our investment in the health and safety of this community,” said Michael Weimer, Chief Operating Officer at Life Flight Network. “This permanent home underscores our long-term commitment to Grays Harbor and our mission to be at the ready for patients and families across the region. We look forward to serving the area for years to come.”

As the nation’s largest not-for-profit air medical transport provider, Life Flight Network operates nearly 60 aircraft across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada—and soon, Hawaii. For more than 47 years, their highly trained flight nurses, flight paramedics, flight respiratory therapists and pilots have delivered lifesaving, ICU-level care, and rapid transport to patients in their most critical moments.

Each year, Life Flight Network transports more than 15,000 critically ill and injured patients across the region. Their aircraft carry advanced medical equipment, blood products, and the resources needed to deliver ICU-level care in the field—bringing critical expertise directly to patients when every second counts.

A facility of the Port of Grays Harbor, Bowerman Airport is coastal Washington’s only jet-capable airport. Bowerman Field boasts a 5,000-foot runway with an instrument landing system (ILS), parallel taxiway, hangar facilities, and aviation fuel. The Port of Grays Harbor operates 4 deep-water marine terminals, the Westport Marina, Bowerman Airport, Grays Harbor ship assists services, numerous public waterfront access facilities, in addition to industrial and business parks throughout the County. More information on the Port of Grays Harbor’s facilities and operations is available at portofgraysharbor.com.