10-Q

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 0-16079

AIR METHODS CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

	Delaware		84-0915893
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

7301 South Peoria, Englewood, Colorado	80112
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code (303) 792-7400

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x  No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated Filer x	Accelerated Filer ¨
Non-accelerated Filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)

Yes ¨  No  x

The number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.06, outstanding as of October 28, 2016, was 36,391,523.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015	1
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	3
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015	5
		Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7
	Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	16
	Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	24
	Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	24
PART II.	OTHER INFORMATION
	Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	25
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	25
	Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	25
	Item 3.	Defaults upon Senior Securities	25
	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	25
	Item 5.	Other Information	25
	Item 6.	Exhibits	25
SIGNATURES			26

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	September 30,			December 31,
	2016			2015
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	7,417			5,808
Receivables:
Trade, net (notes 1 and 4)		385,747			360,542
Refundable income taxes		26,947			2,674
Other		2,973			3,402
Total receivables		415,667			366,618
Inventories		49,490			46,377
Work-in-process on medical interiors and products contracts		4,449			4,024
Assets held for sale		6,054			16,369
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts		2,223			961
Refundable deposits		5,002			7,594
Prepaid expenses and other (note 6)		10,838			9,850
Total current assets		501,140			457,601
Property and equipment:
Land		251			251
Flight and ground support equipment		958,411			835,380
Aircraft under capital leases		149,814			168,725
Aircraft rotable spare parts		35,591			34,688
Buildings and office equipment		68,180			62,503
		1,212,247			1,101,547
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(339,455	)		(301,891	)
Net property and equipment		872,792			799,656
Goodwill (note 2)		211,418			127,732
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $37,625 and $28,093 at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		193,713			129,899
Other assets		23,858			21,062
Total assets	$	1,802,921			1,535,950

(Continued)

1

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, Continued

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	September 30,			December 31,
	2016			2015
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Notes payable	$	7,229			2,955
Current installments of long-term debt		55,040			37,897
Current installments of obligations under capital leases		17,923			20,407
Accounts payable		35,704			30,912
Deferred revenue		2,345			2,294
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts		2,079			1,250
Accrued wages and compensated absences		27,801			19,419
Due to third party payers		13,302			12,292
Other accrued liabilities		20,888			21,044
Total current liabilities		182,311			148,470
Long-term debt, less current installments		803,120			567,226
Obligations under capital leases, less current installments		52,344			68,389
Deferred income taxes (note 1)		204,714			166,836
Other liabilities		9,465			12,293
Total liabilities		1,251,954			963,214
Redeemable non-controlling interests		—			8,550
Stockholders' equity (notes 1 and 3):
Preferred stock, $1 par value. Authorized 15,000,000 shares, none issued		—			—
Common stock, $.06 par value. Authorized 70,500,000 shares; issued 39,604,689 and 39,511,350 shares at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively; outstanding 36,391,523 and 39,003,026 shares at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively		2,355			2,353
Additional paid-in capital		134,777			128,767
Treasury stock at cost, 3,051,220 and 320,988 shares at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively		(109,881	)		(13,457	)
Retained earnings		525,112			447,840
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(1,396	)		(1,317	)
Total stockholders' equity		550,967			564,186
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	1,802,921			1,535,950

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Revenue:
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts (note 4)	$	399,347			383,641			1,146,147			983,360
Provision for uncompensated care (notes 1 and 4)		(169,441	)		(160,799	)		(503,099	)		(421,690	)
Patient transport revenue, net		229,906			222,842			643,048			561,670
Air medical services contract revenue		34,563			40,329			102,382			119,743
Tourism and charter revenue		38,781			36,212			98,242			98,877
Medical interiors and products revenue		4,536			8,379			18,899			16,966
Dispatch and billing service revenue		3,226			3,580			10,411			10,739
		311,012			311,342			872,982			807,995
Operating expenses:
Flight centers		117,958			100,649			333,468			293,060
Air medical aircraft operations		36,512			32,876			103,196			101,445
Tourism operating expenses		24,700			22,519			65,930			65,462
Cost of medical interiors and products sold		4,748			6,712			17,093			13,442
Cost of dispatch and billing services		4,790			3,467			12,608			9,378
Depreciation and amortization		23,587			20,884			69,652			62,082
Loss on disposition of assets, net		386			2,607			564			2,876
General and administrative		41,079			39,351			120,463			108,698
		253,760			229,065			722,974			656,443
Operating income		57,252			82,277			150,008			151,552
Other income (expense):
Interest expense		(8,146	)		(4,893	)		(23,854	)		(15,041	)
Other, net		585			(266	)		1,359			1,270
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		49,691			77,118			127,513			137,781
Income tax expense (note 1)		(19,077	)		(30,235	)		(49,494	)		(53,843	)
Income from continuing operations		30,614			46,883			78,019			83,938
Loss on discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—			(29	)		—			(378	)
Net income		30,614			46,854			78,019			83,560
Less net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests		—			202			(30	)		684
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	30,614			46,652			78,049			82,876
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		(92	)		(340	)		(79	)		(800	)
Comprehensive income	$	30,522			46,312			77,970			82,076

(Continued)

3

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, Continued

(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Income (loss) per common share (notes 1 and 5):
Basic:
Continuing operations	$	.82		1.17		2.03		2.10
Discontinued operations		—		—		—		(.01	)
Net income	$	.82		1.17		2.03		2.09
Diluted:
Continuing operations	$	.82		1.16		2.02		2.09
Discontinued operations		—		—		—		(.01	)
Net income	$	.82		1.16		2.02		2.08
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		37,354,787		39,293,453		38,181,918		39,276,062
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		37,413,828		39,420,354		38,260,743		39,408,239

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	78,019			83,560
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		—			378
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense		69,652			62,082
Deferred income tax expense		37,878			4,376
Stock-based compensation		5,129			5,733
Amortization of debt issuance costs		929			697
Loss on disposition of assets, net		564			2,876
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instrument		(531	)		369
Loss from equity method investee		395			1,193
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets		2,822			641
Increase in receivables		(21,591	)		(51,301	)
Increase in inventories		(1,001	)		(797	)
Increase in costs in excess of billings		(1,262	)		(2,188	)
Increase in accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, and other liabilities		1,420			18,770
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue and billings in excess of costs		880			(178	)
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities		173,303			126,211
Net cash used by discontinued operating activities		—			(100	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		173,303			126,111
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of subsidiaries		(225,519	)		—
Acquisition of property and equipment		(74,025	)		(95,494	)
Acquisition of hospital program		—			(43,481	)
Buy-out of previously leased aircraft		(13,123	)		(9,519	)
Proceeds from disposition and sale of equipment and assets held for sale		6,209			3,642
Increase in other assets		(3,194	)		(11,597	)
Net cash used by continuing investing activities		(309,652	)		(156,449	)
Net cash provided by discontinued investing activities		—			25
Net cash used in investing activities		(309,652	)		(156,424	)

(Continued)

5

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, Continued

(Amounts in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2016			2015
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	$	803			409
Purchases of common stock		(96,424	)		—
Borrowings under line of credit		95,000			50,000
Payments under line of credit		(80,000	)		(50,000	)
Payments for financing costs		(73	)		(4,472	)
Proceeds from long-term debt		276,000			105,525
Payments of long-term debt		(38,819	)		(45,251	)
Payments of capital lease obligations		(18,529	)		(24,100	)
Net cash provided by continuing financing activities		137,958			32,111
Net cash provided by discontinued financing activities		—			—
Net cash provided by financing activities		137,958			32,111
Increase in cash and cash equivalents		1,609			1,798
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		5,808			13,165
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	7,417			14,963
Interest paid in cash during the period	$	22,930			14,366
Income taxes paid in cash during the period	$	37,247			27,950

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Company settled non-interest-bearing notes payable of $2,955 in exchange for the aircraft securing the debt and entered into non-interest-bearing notes payable of $7,229 to finance the purchase of aircraft which were held in property and equipment pending permanent financing as of September 30, 2016.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company entered into non-interest-bearing notes payable of $11,112 to finance the purchase of aircraft which were held in property and equipment pending permanent financing as of September 30, 2015, and into capital leases of $354 to finance the purchase of equipment. The Company also settled non-interest-bearing notes payable of $11,442 in exchange for the aircraft securing the debt.

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated financial statements for the respective periods. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company considers its critical accounting policies involving more significant judgments and estimates to be those related to revenue recognition, deferred income taxes, valuation of long-lived assets, and fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements

During the third quarter of 2016, the Company identified errors in the mathematical formula used to calculate its allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care related to patient transport receivables. The errors caused net receivables to be overstated for open accounts which had been partially collected and understated for open accounts which had been partially discounted. The Company has evaluated the impact of these errors and concluded it was not material to any previously issued financial statements. The Company has elected to revise the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, presented in this report and will revise its previously issued financial statements to correct these errors when the financial statements are presented in future periodic filings.

As of December 31, 2015, the revisions decreased net trade receivables and total assets by $15.8 million, deferred income taxes by $6.1 million, and retained earnings by $9.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the revisions increased the provision for uncompensated care by $5.2 million and decreased income tax expense by $2.0 million and net income attributable to the Company and its subsidiaries by $3.2 million. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, decreased $0.08. Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have also been revised consistent with these adjustments, as appropriate.

(2) Acquisition of Subsidiaries

Tri-State Care Flight, LLC

On January 19, 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the membership interest of Tri-State Care Flight, LLC (TSCF), for a cash purchase price of $222.5 million plus an initial estimated working capital adjustment of $11.2 million. TSCF provided air medical transport services in the southwestern United States under the community-based service delivery model, utilizing a fleet of 22 helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft. As of March 31, 2016, the Company recorded a receivable of $811,000 for the decrease to the purchase price related to the change in working capital, and the amount was received in the second quarter of 2016. The purchase price was financed primarily through additional term loans and draws against the line of credit under the Company’s senior credit facility.

7

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(2) Acquisition of Subsidiaries, continued

The Company is in the process of verifying open aircraft parts repair orders and confirming other liabilities relating to pre-acquisition events. In addition, the Company is analyzing the payer mix and historical collection data related to patient transport receivables as of the acquisition date. For these reasons, the allocation of the purchase price is still subject to refinement. The allocation of the purchase price was as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Initial						Revised
	Allocation			Adjustments			Allocation
Assets purchased:
Receivables	$	30,695			(3,180	)		27,515
Aircraft		30,501						30,501
Goodwill		80,690			3,013			83,703
Other intangible assets		74,000						74,000
Other assets		26,845			3			26,848
Total assets		242,731			(164	)		242,567
Total liabilities assumed		(9,864	)		164			(9,700	)
Purchase price	$	232,867			—			232,867

Net revenue and income (loss) before income taxes and allocation of corporate administrative expenses generated by TSCF’s operations since the acquisition date have been included with those of the Company in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Three months ended			Nine months ended
	September 30, 2016			September 30, 2016
Net revenue	$	14,000			40,429
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate administrative expense allocation		(178	)		999

Operating results shown above for TSCF do not include the effect of patient transports retained at base locations where a TSCF base was consolidated into a previously existing Company base.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents combined financial results for the Company and TSCF for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, assuming the acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2015 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015		September 30, 2015
Revenue	$	331,518		871,159
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	49,872		94,365
Basic income per common share	$	1.25		2.38
Diluted income per common share	$	1.24		2.37

8

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(2) Acquisition of Subsidiaries, continued

The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent what the Company’s results of operations would have been had the acquisition occurred on the date assumed, nor is the information indicative of results that may be expected in future periods. Pro forma adjustments exclude cost savings from synergies that may result from the acquisition.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company’s partners exercised their right to require the Company to acquire their 10% ownership interest in Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC. During the first and second quarters of 2016, the Company completed the buyout for $9,173,000.

(3) Stockholders’ Equity

Changes in stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands except share amounts):

	Shares
	Outstanding			Amount
Balances at January 1, 2016		39,003,026		$	564,186
Issuance of common stock for options exercised		45,360			803
Stock-based compensation		73,369			5,129
Purchase of common stock		(2,730,232	)		(96,424	)
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends		—			14
Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interests		—			(711	)
Other comprehensive loss		—			(79	)
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		—			78,049
Balances at September 30, 2016		36,391,523		$	550,967

9

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(4) Patient Transport Revenue Recognition

Trade receivables are presented net of allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care. The Company determines its allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care based on estimated payer mix, payer reimbursement schedules, and historical collection experience. The allowances are reviewed monthly and adjusted periodically based on actual collections. Billings are charged off against the uncompensated care allowance when it is probable that the receivable will not be recovered. The allowance for contractual discounts is related primarily to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-sponsored insurance plan patients. The allowance for uncompensated care is related primarily to receivables recorded for self-pay patients.

Historically, the Company’s allowance and provision for contractual discounts were calculated based entirely on Medicare and Medicaid patient transports. The Company determined that uncollectible amounts related to other government-sponsored insurance plans and to private insurance carriers with whom the Company has established a contractual relationship should have been categorized as contractual discounts rather than as uncompensated care in prior periods. Effective in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company presented these uncollectible amounts as contractual discounts and corrected the presentation in prior periods. As a result, the Company increased the provision for contractual discounts and correspondingly decreased the provision for uncompensated care by $19,480,000 and $66,405,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The Company has also reclassified certain amounts for the first and second quarters of 2016 from the provision for uncompensated care to the provision for contractual discounts in order to conform with this presentation.

The Company has not changed its charitable care policies related to self-pay patients or deductible and copayment balances for insured patients during either 2016 or 2015. The allowance for uncompensated care was 55.3% of receivables from non-contract payers as of September 30, 2016, compared to 45.0% at December 31, 2015, and 59.9% at September 30, 2015.

The Company recognizes patient transport revenue at its standard rates for services provided, regardless of expected payer. In the period that services are provided and based upon historical experience, the Company records a significant provision for uncompensated care related to uninsured patients who will be unable or unwilling to pay for the services provided and a provision for contractual discounts related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other transports covered by contracts. Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts but before provision for uncompensated care, by major payer class, was as follows (amounts in thousands):

	For quarter ended				For nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Third-party payers	$	297,386		303,155		862,329		767,120
Self-pay		101,961		80,486		283,818		216,240
Total	$	399,347		383,641		1,146,147		983,360

10

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(5) Income per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by all common shares outstanding during the period and dilutive potential common shares.

In accordance with FASB ASC 480-10-S99, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and solely for the purpose of calculating earnings per share, net income was increased by $155,000 and decreased by $711,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and decreased by $800,000 and $918,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, for adjustments to the value of redeemable non-controlling interests.

The reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows:

	2016		2015
For quarter ended September 30:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		37,354,787		39,293,453
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options		1,468		27,886
Unvested restricted stock		49,814		92,449
Unvested performance share units		7,759		6,566
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		37,413,828		39,420,354
For nine months ended September 30:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		38,181,918		39,276,062
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options		4,929		35,752
Unvested restricted stock		69,189		95,489
Unvested performance share units		4,707		936
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		38,260,743		39,408,239

Common stock options totaling 958,567 and performance share units totaling 30,358 were not included in the diluted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Common stock options totaling 573,732 and 566,752 were not included in the diluted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and performance share units totaling 68,340 were not included in the diluted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

11

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(6) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” requires disclosures about how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities and establishes a hierarchy by which these assets and liabilities must be grouped based on the type of inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or

Level 3: unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, notes receivable, notes payable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities:

The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Derivative instruments:

The Company endeavors to acquire jet fuel at the lowest possible cost and to reduce volatility in operating expenses through the use of short-term purchased call options. Financial derivative instruments covering fuel purchases are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets at fair value. Fair value is determined based on quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of all fuel derivative instruments included in prepaid expenses and other current assets was $770,000 at September 30, 2016, and $0 at December 31, 2015. The Company’s financial derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting, and, therefore, realized and non-cash mark to market adjustments are included in air medical aircraft operations and tourism operating expenses in the Company’s statements of comprehensive income. Operating expenses included a non-cash mark to market derivative loss of $439,000 and gain of $531,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to losses of $112,000 and $369,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Cash settlements totaled $343,000 and $439,000 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016. There were no cash settlements in 2015.

Long-term debt:

The fair value of long-term debt is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy because it is determined based on the present value of future contractual cash flows discounted at an interest rate that reflects the risks inherent in those cash flows. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and average maturities and on recent transactions, the fair value of long-term debt as of September 30, 2016, is estimated to be $874,727,000, compared to a carrying value of $858,160,000. The fair value of long-term debt as of December 31, 2015, was estimated to be $612,264,000, compared to a carrying value of $605,123,000.

12

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(7) Business Segment Information

Summarized financial information for the Company’s operating segments is shown in the following table (amounts in thousands). Amounts in the “Corporate Activities” column represent corporate headquarters expenses, corporate income tax expense, and results of insignificant operations. The Company does not allocate assets between operating segments for internal reporting and performance evaluation purposes. Operating segments and their principal products or services are as follows:

· Air Medical Services (AMS) - provides air medical transportation services to the general population as an independent service and to hospitals or other institutions under exclusive operating agreements. Services include aircraft operation and maintenance, medical care, dispatch and communications, and medical billing and collection.

· Tourism – provides helicopter tours and charter flights, primarily focusing on Grand Canyon and Hawaiian Island tours.

· United Rotorcraft (UR) Division - designs, manufactures, and installs aircraft medical interiors and other aerospace and medical transport products for domestic and international customers.

										Corporate			Intersegment
For quarter ended September 30:	AMS			Tourism			UR			Activities			Eliminations			Consolidated
2016
External revenue	$	267,699			38,781			4,532			—			—			311,012
Intersegment revenue		—			—			3,173			—			(3,173	)		—
Total revenue		267,699			38,781			7,705			—			(3,173	)		311,012
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(184,740	)		(29,155	)		(7,676	)		(11,272	)		2,670			(230,173	)
Depreciation & amortization		(19,808	)		(2,317	)		(853	)		(609	)		—			(23,587	)
Interest expense		(6,488	)		(1,070	)		—			(584	)		(4	)		(8,146	)
Other income (expense), net		670			16			—			(105	)		4			585
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(19,077	)		—			(19,077	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	57,333			6,255			(824	)		(31,647	)		(503	)		30,614
2015
External revenue	$	266,751			36,212			8,379			—			—			311,342
Intersegment revenue		—			—			4,803			—			(4,803	)		—
Total revenue		266,751			36,212			13,182			—			(4,803	)		311,342
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(160,200	)		(28,303	)		(11,127	)		(12,757	)		4,206			(208,181	)
Depreciation & amortization		(17,412	)		(2,002	)		(873	)		(597	)		—			(20,884	)
Interest expense		(3,747	)		(783	)		—			(366	)		3			(4,893	)
Other income (expense), net		524			—			—			(787	)		(3	)		(266	)
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(30,235	)		—			(30,235	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		85,916			5,124			1,182			(44,742	)		(597	)		46,883
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(29	)		—			—			—			—			(29	)
Segment net income (loss)		85,887			5,124			1,182			(44,742	)		(597	)		46,854
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(22	)		224			—			—			—			202
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	85,909			4,900			1,182			(44,742	)		(597	)		46,652

13

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(7) Business Segment Information, continued

										Corporate			Intersegment
For nine months ended September 30:	AMS			Tourism			UR			Activities			Eliminations			Consolidated
2016
External revenue	$	755,853			98,242			18,887			—			—			872,982
Intersegment revenue		—			—			12,249			—			(12,249	)		—
Total revenue		755,853			98,242			31,136			—			(12,249	)		872,982
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(520,255	)		(79,470	)		(28,257	)		(35,718	)		10,378			(653,322	)
Depreciation & amortization		(58,373	)		(6,898	)		(2,598	)		(1,783	)		—			(69,652	)
Interest expense		(19,090	)		(3,185	)		—			(1,583	)		4			(23,854	)
Other income (expense), net		1,606			50			—			(293	)		(4	)		1,359
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(49,494	)		—			(49,494	)
Segment net income (loss)		159,741			8,739			281			(88,871	)		(1,871	)		78,019
Less net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		(30	)		—			—			—			—			(30	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	159,771			8,739			281			(88,871	)		(1,871	)		78,049
2015
External revenue	$	692,152			98,877			16,962			4			—			807,995
Intersegment revenue		—			—			17,923			—			(17,923	)		—
Total revenue		692,152			98,877			34,885			4			(17,923	)		807,995
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(466,493	)		(80,239	)		(30,261	)		(33,748	)		16,380			(594,361	)
Depreciation & amortization		(52,026	)		(5,791	)		(2,529	)		(1,736	)		—			(62,082	)
Interest expense		(11,169	)		(2,439	)		—			(1,440	)		7			(15,041	)
Other income (expense), net		2,339			3			—			(1,065	)		(7	)		1,270
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(53,843	)		—			(53,843	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		164,803			10,411			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		83,938
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(378	)		—			—			—			—			(378	)
Segment net income (loss)		164,425			10,411			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		83,560
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(82	)		766			—			—			—			684
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	164,507			9,645			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		82,876

(8) New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides specific guidance for the classification of eight types of cash receipts or payments on the statement of cash flow. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and must be adopted retrospectively. The Company does not expect implementation to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, forfeitures, and statement of cash flow classification. The Company elected to adopt the ASU effective January 1, 2016, as permitted, and to recognize forfeitures of equity awards as they occur. Consequently, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect reduction of $80,000 in retained earnings as of January 1, 2016, for the change in accounting for forfeitures. In addition, an excess tax benefit of $184,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, has been reclassified from financing activities to operating activities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. All other provisions of the ASU have been adopted prospectively, as required.

14

Air Methods Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, continued

(unaudited)

(8) New Accounting Pronouncements, continued

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU No. 2015-03, Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires that debt issuance costs be presented as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Debt issuance costs of $1,194,000 and $4,379,000 as of December 31, 2015, have been reclassified from other assets to current installments of long-term debt and long-term debt, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a number of optional practical expedients. The Company has not yet determined which, if any, of the optional practical expedients it may elect to apply nor the effect that the ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for public entities to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption will be permitted as of the original effective date (i.e., for periods beginning after December 15, 2016). In 2016, the FASB issued ASU Nos. 2016-08, 2016-10, and 2016-12 to clarify guidance on specific provisions within ASU No. 2014-09. ASU No. 2014-09 permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

15

ITEM 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of the results of operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of this report. This report, including the information incorporated by reference, contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The use of any of the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our possible or assumed future results; flight volume, collection rates and days’ sales outstanding for patient transports; collection of future price increases for patient transports; size, structure and growth of our air medical services, aerial tourism, and products markets; continuation and/or renewal of hospital contracts; acquisition of new and profitable UR Division contracts; impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and other changes in laws and regulations; delivery of new aircraft and disposition of older aircraft; commitments to purchase new aircraft; and other matters. The actual results that we achieve may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors section of this report, in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in other sections of this report, as well as in our annual report on Form 10-K. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Overview

We provide air medical transportation services throughout the United States and design, manufacture, and install medical aircraft interiors and other aerospace products for domestic and international customers. We also provide tourism operations in and around the Grand Canyon and Hawaiian Islands. Our divisions, or business segments, are organized according to the type of service or product provided and consist of the following:

· Air Medical Services (AMS) – provides air medical transportation services to the general population as an independent service (also called community-based services) and to hospitals or other institutions under exclusive operating agreements (also called hospital-based services). Patient transport revenue consists of flight fees billed directly to patients, their insurers, or governmental agencies, and cash flow is dependent upon collection from these individuals or entities. Air medical services contract revenue consists of fixed monthly fees (approximately 80% of total contract revenue) and hourly flight fees (approximately 20% of total contract revenue) billed to hospitals or other institutions. On January 19, 2016, we acquired 100% of the membership interest of Tri-State Care Flight, LLC (TSCF). In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the AMS Division generated 87% of our total revenue, compared to 86% in 2015.

· Tourism Division – provides helicopter tours and charter flights, primarily focusing on Grand Canyon and Hawaiian Island tours. In the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Tourism Division generated 11% of our total revenue, compared to 12% in 2015.

· United Rotorcraft (UR) Division – designs, manufactures, and installs aircraft medical interiors and other aerospace and medical transport products for domestic and international customers. The UR Division generated 2% of our total revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this report for operating results by segment.

16

We believe that the following factors have the greatest impact on our results of operations and financial condition:

· Patient transport volume. Almost all patient transport revenue and approximately 20% of AMS contract revenue are derived from flight fees. By contrast, 86% of AMS operating costs incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, is mainly fixed in nature. While flight volume is affected by many factors, including competition and the effectiveness of marketing and business development initiatives, the greatest single variable in quarterly comparatives has historically been weather conditions. Adverse weather conditions—such as fog, high winds, high heat, or heavy precipitation—hamper our ability to operate our aircraft safely and, therefore, result in reduced flight volume. Total patient transports for community-based locations were 18,478 and 54,143 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 17,330 and 47,287 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Patient transports for community-based locations open longer than one year (Same-Base Transports) were 15,352 and 44,785 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 16,764 and 45,712 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Cancellations due to unfavorable weather conditions for community-based locations open longer than one year were 395 higher and 702 lower in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Requests for community-based services decreased by 4.6% and 1.5% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, for bases open longer than one year. Weak hospital census, particularly in rural markets, adversely impacts inter-facility transports. Extreme weather conditions may also cause a reduction in flight demand as well as in the number of completed flights.

· Reimbursement per transport. We respond to calls for air medical transports without pre-screening third-party payer coverage or creditworthiness of the patient and are subject to collection risk for services provided to insured and uninsured patients. Medicare and Medicaid also receive contractual discounts from our standard charges for flight services. Patient transport revenue is recorded net of provisions for contractual discounts and estimated uncompensated care. Both provisions are estimated during the period the related services are performed based on historical collection experience and any known trends or changes in reimbursement rate schedules and payer mix. The provisions are adjusted as required based on actual collections in subsequent periods. Net reimbursement per patient transport is primarily a function of collection rate, payer mix, and timely and effective collection efforts. Both the pace of collections and the ultimate collection rate are affected by the overall health of the U.S. economy, which impacts the number of indigent patients and funding for state-run programs, such as Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates have remained well below the cost of providing air medical transportation.

Private insurers may also take additional time to review claims and related documentation, including proof of medical necessity, and increase the frequency of such reviews, thus elongating the collection cycle. The collection rate and cycle may also both be impacted if private insurers pay patients directly rather than remitting payment to the Company.

One of the primary goals of PPACA was to decrease the number of uninsured Americans. Although we have experienced a movement from self-pay patients to Medicaid in our payer mix in prior periods, to date we have not experienced an increase in the percentage of transports covered by private insurance as a result of PPACA.

Net reimbursement per transport decreased 3.3% in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared to 2015, attributed to deteriorations in payer mix and collection rate, net of recent price increases. Net reimbursement per transport for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was relatively unchanged from the prior year. Payer mix inclusive of TSCF, based on number of transports, was as follows:

	For quarters ended						For nine months ended
	September 30,						September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Private insurance carriers		26.7	%		27.8	%		26.2	%		27.0	%
Government-sponsored insurance plans		3.6	%		3.6	%		3.6	%		3.8	%
Medicare		34.3	%		33.9	%		35.6	%		34.8	%
Medicaid		24.7	%		24.6	%		24.6	%		24.4	%
Self-pay patients		10.7	%		10.1	%		10.0	%		10.0	%

17

Excluding the effect of TSCF, private insurance carriers represented 27.2% and 26.8% of total transports for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Although price increases generally increase net reimbursement per transport from insurance payers, the amount per transport collectible from self-pay patients, Medicare, and Medicaid does not increase proportionately with price increases. Therefore, depending upon overall payer mix, price increases will usually result in an increase in the percentage of uncollectible accounts. Certain insurance companies have also not increased their reimbursement rates proportionately with recent price increases to the same extent they did with previous price increases. Continued price increases may cause insurance companies to limit coverage for air medical transport to amounts less than our historical collection rates.

· Tourism passenger count. Tourism revenue is entirely derived from passenger fees, but 76% of tourism operating costs incurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was mainly fixed in nature. Passenger count is impacted by many variables, including weather, competition, and tour prices. Because international travelers account for a significant number of tourism customers, flight volume may also be impacted by worldwide economic conditions and international currency exchange rates. Total tourism passenger count was 137,595 and 347,803 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 134,157 and 361,306 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

· Aircraft maintenance. AMS and Tourism operations are directly affected by fluctuations in aircraft maintenance costs. Proper operation of the aircraft by flight crews and standardized maintenance practices can help to contain maintenance costs. Increases in spare parts prices from original equipment manufacturers tend to be higher for aircraft which are no longer in production. In addition, on-condition components are more likely to require replacement with age. Since January 1, 2015, we have taken delivery of 42 new aircraft and expect to take delivery of two additional new aircraft through the end of 2016. We have replaced discontinued models and other older aircraft with the new aircraft, as well as provided capacity for base expansion. Replacement models of aircraft typically have higher ownership costs than the models targeted for replacement but lower maintenance costs. Total AMS aircraft maintenance expense increased 9.1% and 0.3% in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015, while total flight hours for AMS operations increased 3.3% and 8.7% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Excluding TSCF operations, AMS aircraft maintenance expense increased 1.7% and decreased 5.5%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Total flight hours for corresponding operations decreased 2.8% and increased 2.1% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Aircraft maintenance expense for the Tourism Division increased 6.0% and decreased 3.9% in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015, reflecting increases of 8.6% and 0.4% in total flight hours for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The change in maintenance expense reflects normal fluctuations in the timing of overhaul and replacement cycles for aircraft parts. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we also incurred $2.6 million to remediate certification documentation issues related to Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) installations in certain of our aircraft.

· Competitive pressures from low-cost providers. We are recognized within the industry for our higher standard of service and our use of cabin-class aircraft. Many of our competitors utilize aircraft with lower ownership and operating costs and do not require a similar level of experience for aviation and medical personnel. Reimbursement rates established by Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance providers are not contingent upon the type of aircraft used or the experience of personnel. However, we believe that higher quality standards help to differentiate our service from competitors and, therefore, lead to higher utilization.

· Employee recruitment and relations. The ability to deliver quality service is partially dependent upon our ability to hire and retain employees who have advanced aviation, nursing, and other technical skills. In addition, hospital contracts typically contain minimum certification requirements for pilots and mechanics. Employees who meet these standards are in great demand and are likely to remain a limited resource in the foreseeable future. Our AMS pilots are represented by a collective bargaining unit and are covered under a collective bargaining agreement which is effective through December 31, 2016. Negotiations have begun on a new CBA but no agreement has yet been reached. Other employee groups may also elect to be represented by unions in the future.

18

Results of Operations

We reported net income of $30,614,000 and $78,049,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $46,652,000 and $82,876,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Same-Base Transports decreased 8.4% and 2.0% in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to 2015, while net reimbursement per patient transport decreased 3.3% in the quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared to 2015, primarily as a result of deteriorations in payer mix and collection rate net of recent price increases. Net reimbursement per patient transport for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, was relatively unchanged compared to 2015.

Air Medical Services

Patient transport revenue is recorded net of provisions for contractual discounts and uncompensated care and increased $7,064,000, or 3.2%, and $81,378,000, or 14.5%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015, for the following reasons:

· Net revenue of $13,993,000 and $40,429,000 from TSCF’s operations during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

· Decreases of 1,412, or 8.4%, and 927, or 2.0%, in Same-Base Transports for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Cancellations due to unfavorable weather conditions for bases open longer than one year were 395 higher and 702 lower in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Requests for community-based services decreased 4.6% and 1.5% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, for bases open greater than one year. Weak hospital census, particularly in rural markets, adversely impacts inter-facility transports. Extreme weather conditions may also cause a reduction in flight demand as well as in the number of completed flights.

· Decrease of 3.3% in net reimbursement per transport for the quarter ended September 30, 2016, compared to 2015, due primarily to deteriorations in payer mix and collection rate net of recent price increases. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016, net reimbursement per transport was relatively unchanged compared to 2015.

· Incremental net revenue of $24,414,000 and $71,235,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, generated from the addition of 38 new bases, including sixteen bases resulting from the conversion of AMS contract customers to community-based operations, during 2016 or 2015.

· Closure of eleven bases during 2016 or 2015, related to insufficient flight volume and to plans to improve per base utilization, resulting in decreases in net revenue of approximately $5,524,000 and $13,456,000 during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Air medical services contract revenue decreased $5,766,000, or 14.3%, and $17,361,000, or 14.5%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, for the following reasons:

· Cessation of service under three contracts and the conversion of five contracts to community-based operations during 2016 or 2015, resulting in decreases in net revenue of approximately $6,460,000 and $20,780,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

· Incremental net revenue of $1,034,000 and $2,751,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, generated from expansion of five contracts to additional bases of operation during 2016 or 2015.

· Decreases of 4.0% and 2.1% in flight volume for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, for all contracts excluding contract expansions and closed contracts described above.

· Annual price increases in the majority of contracts based on stipulated contractual increases or changes in the Consumer Price Index or spare parts prices from aircraft manufacturers.

Flight center costs (consisting primarily of pilot, mechanic, and medical staff salaries and benefits) increased $17,309,000, or 17.2%, and $40,408,000, or 13.8%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015, for the following reasons:

· Flight center costs of $6,817,000 and $19,155,000 related to TSCF’s operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

· Increases of approximately $11,215,000 and $33,129,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, for the addition of personnel to staff new base locations described above.

· Decreases of approximately $4,733,000 and $15,390,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, due to the closure of base locations described above.

19

Air medical aircraft operating expenses increased $3,636,000, or 11.1%, and $1,751,000, or 1.7%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Aircraft operating expenses consist of fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs and generally are a function of the size of the fleet, the type of aircraft flown, and the number of hours flown. The change in costs is due to the following:

· Aircraft operating expenses of $2,606,000 and $6,401,000 related to TSCF’s fleet during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016.

· Increase in AMS aircraft maintenance expense of $411,000, or 1.7%, to $25,125,000 for the third quarter of 2016 and decrease of $4,368,000, or 5.5%, to $74,539,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to the prior year, excluding the effect of the TSCF fleet. Total flight volume for corresponding AMS operations decreased 2.8% and increased 2.1% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to prior year. The change in maintenance expense reflects normal fluctuations in the timing of overhaul and replacement cycles for aircraft parts. During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we also incurred $2,635,000 to remediate certification documentation issues related to NVIS installations in certain of our aircraft.

· Decreases of approximately 2.1% and 16.3% in the cost of aircraft fuel per hour flown for AMS operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, excluding the effect of the TSCF fleet. Total AMS fuel costs, excluding the TSCF fleet, increased $38,000 to $5,882,000 and decreased $1,290,000 to $14,009,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Fuel costs also included a non-cash mark to market derivative loss of $293,000 and gain of $470,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to losses of $112,000 and $369,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

· Decrease in hull insurance rates effective July 2015. Effective with our policy renewal on July 1, 2016, our hull insurance rates increased but remain below the rates we paid for the 2014-2015 policy year.

Tourism

Tourism and charter revenue increased $2,569,000, or 7.1%, and decreased $635,000, or 0.6%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. During the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, we transported 137,595 and 347,803 passengers on tourism flights, compared to 134,157 and 361,306 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively.

Tourism operating expenses consist primarily of pilot and mechanic salaries and benefits; aircraft maintenance, fuel, and insurance; landing fees; commissions; and cost of tour amenities and typically vary with passenger count, flight volume, and number and type of aircraft. Expenses increased $2,181,000, or 9.7%, and $468,000, or 0.7%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015, for the following reasons:

· Fluctuation in passenger volume, as described above.

· Increase of $416,000, or 6.0%, to $7,378,000 and decrease of $871,000, or 3.9%, to $21,361,000 in tourism aircraft maintenance expense for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, reflecting increases of 8.6% and 0.4% in total flight hours for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, as well as normal fluctuations in the timing of overhaul and replacement cycles for aircraft parts.

· Increase of 1.6% and decrease of 18.2% in the cost of aircraft fuel per hour flown for tourism operations for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively

United Rotorcraft Division

Medical interiors and products revenue decreased $3,843,000, or 45.9%, and increased $1,933,000, or 11.4%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. Significant projects during 2016 included the completion of seventeen multi-mission interiors for the U.S. Army’s HH-60M helicopter, work under two contracts for a total of 73 interior kits for an older generation of the Black Hawk helicopter, and six aircraft interiors for commercial customers. Revenue by product line for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, was as follows:

· $3,258,000 and $13,900,000 – governmental entities

· $1,278,000 and $4,999,000 – commercial customers

20

Significant projects during 2015 included the completion of eighteen multi-mission interiors for the U.S. Army’s HH-60M helicopter and 26 interiors for an older generation of the U.S. Army’s Black Hawk helicopter, as well as work on six aircraft interiors for commercial customers. Revenue by product line for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, was as follows:

· $5,677,000 and $11,287,000 – governmental entities

· $2,702,000 and $5,679,000 – commercial customers

Cost of medical interiors and products decreased $1,964,000, or 29.3%, and increased $3,651,000, or 27.2%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, as compared to the prior year, due primarily to the changes in sales volume. In addition, costs in 2016 included development and design work on aircraft interior configurations for commercial customers, leading to higher engineering and certification costs and to lower profit margins. Cost of medical interiors and products also includes certain fixed costs, such as administrative salaries and facilities rent, which do not vary with volume of sales and which are absorbed by both projects for external customers and interdivisional projects.

General Expenses

Depreciation and amortization increased $2,703,000, or 12.9%, and $7,570,000, or 12.2%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to 2015. Depreciation and amortization expense related to TSCF’s assets was $1,839,000 and $4,773,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. In addition, since March 31, 2015, we have placed 43 aircraft with a total basis of $143.7 million into service. These increases were offset, in part, by the buyout of 26 aircraft which were previously leased under capital lease obligations since March 31, 2015. Aircraft under capital leases are amortized over the terms of the underlying leases with no assigned salvage value. Aircraft which are owned directly are depreciated over a 25-year life, based on the year of manufacture, with a 25% salvage value. As a result, the buyout of aircraft from capital lease obligations results in a decrease in depreciation expense.

General and administrative (G&A) expenses increased $1,728,000, or 4.4%, and $11,765,000, or 10.8%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015. G&A expenses include executive management, legal, accounting and finance, billing and collections, information services, human resources, aviation management, pilot training, dispatch and communications, AMS program administration, and tourism customer service and reservations. G&A expenses directly attributable to TSCF operations totaled $1,700,000 and $5,485,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Since March 31, 2015, we have opened a net of 26 new community-based locations, not including TSCF bases, contributing to an increase in billing and collections, dispatch, and AMS program administration requirements. We also have increased billing and collections staffing in order to address the backlog of claims and thus reduce days’ sales outstanding. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $3,703,000 and $4,270,000 in equity and incentive compensation accruals related to our financial performance during the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to 2015.

Interest expense increased $3,253,000, or 66.5%, and $8,813,000, or 58.6%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to 2015, primarily due to $220 million of term loans originated during January 2016 to finance the acquisition of TSCF. Weighted average interest rates on all term loans under our senior credit facility were 2.46% and 2.44% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and 2.08% and 1.99% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. In addition, we carried average balances of $10.0 million and $9.0 million against our line of credit in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, compared to $7.0 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2015. We did not carry a balance against our line during the third quarter of 2015.

Income tax expense was $19,077,000 and $49,494,000, at effective tax rates of 38.4%, and 38.8%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to $30,235,000 and $53,843,000, at effective tax rates of 39.2%, and 39.1%, for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The rates in 2016 were affected by apportionment factor adjustments and scheduled changes in state income tax rates which decreased our expected blended state rate; applying the new rate to deferred tax assets and liabilities resulted in an income tax benefit of $383,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016. Excluding the effect of this change, the effective tax rate was 39.2% and 39.1% for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Changes in our effective tax rate are affected by the apportionment of revenue and income before taxes for the various jurisdictions in which we operate and by changing tax laws and regulations in those jurisdictions.

21

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our working capital position as of September 30, 2016, was $318.8 million, compared to $309.1 million at December 31, 2015. Cash generated by continuing operations was $173.3 million in 2016, compared to $126.2 million in 2015, reflecting the results of operations described above. Excluding the effect of receivables acquired in the TSCF purchase, net trade receivables decreased $1.2 million during 2016, compared to increasing $60.5 million in 2015. Days’ sales outstanding (DSO’s) related to patient transports, measured by comparing net patient transport revenue for the annualized previous six-month period to outstanding open net accounts receivable, were 134 at September 30, 2016, compared to 126 at September 30, 2015, and 148 at June 30, 2016. The increase in DSO’s over prior year is attributed in part to additional time taken by private insurers to review claims and related documentation, including proof of medical necessity, prior to claim adjudication and an increase in the number of claims subjected to the extended review process by private insurers. To address changes in payer practices, we have significantly increased billing and collections staffing and initiated process improvements designed to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the billing cycle.

Cash used by continuing investing activities totaled $309.7 million in 2016 compared to $156.4 million in 2015. In 2016 we acquired TSCF for $216.3 million (net of cash deposits acquired) and completed the buyout of our minority partners in Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC, for $9.2 million. Equipment acquisitions in 2016 included the purchase of sixteen aircraft for $56.5 million and the buyout of ten previously leased aircraft for $13.1 million. We sold ten aircraft for $6.1 million. Equipment acquisitions in 2015 included the purchase of 23 aircraft for approximately $86.1 million and the buyout of eight previously leased aircraft for $9.5 million. During 2015 we also acquired three aircraft, medical equipment, and certain other intangible assets for $43.5 million from a hospital customer in connection with converting the program to community-based operations. We sold seven aircraft for $3.5 million.

Continuing financing activities generated $138.0 million in 2016 compared to $32.1 million in 2015. In 2016 we utilized $220 million of new term loans under the senior credit facility to finance the acquisition of TSCF and originated fourteen notes totaling $56.0 million to finance the acquisition of new aircraft. We also repurchased 2.7 million shares of our common stock on the open market for $96.4 million. During 2015, we originated 28 notes primarily to finance the acquisition of aircraft and capital lease buyouts.

In the first quarter of 2015, we entered into an agreement to purchase 200 Bell 407GXP helicopters totaling $882.6 million over a ten-year term beginning in 2016. We have taken delivery of ten aircraft under this agreement in 2016 and expect to take delivery of two more in the fourth quarter. During the third quarter of 2016, in accordance with our right to termination for convenience, we gave notice to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., of our intent to cancel or reduce future orders and are in the process of negotiating modifications to the terms of the purchase agreement, including the total number of aircraft to be delivered under the agreement and application of related deposits of $6.3 million.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

On an on-going basis, management evaluates our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, deferred income taxes, and valuation of long-lived assets and goodwill. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Management believes the following critical accounting policies affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

22

Revenue Recognition

Revenue relating to tourism and charter flights is recognized upon completion of the services. Fixed contract revenue under our operating agreements with hospitals is recognized monthly over the terms of the agreements. Revenue relating to patient transports is recognized upon completion of the services and is recorded net of provisions for contractual discounts and estimated uncompensated care. Both provisions are estimated during the period related services are performed based on historical collection experience and any known trends or changes in reimbursement rate schedules and payer mix. The provisions are adjusted as required based on actual collections in subsequent periods. We have from time to time experienced delays in reimbursement from third-party payers. In addition, third-party payers may disallow, in whole or in part, claims for reimbursement based on determinations that certain amounts are not reimbursable under plan coverage, determinations of medical necessity, or the need for additional information. Laws and regulations governing Medicare and Medicaid programs are very complex and subject to interpretation. We also provide services to patients who have no insurance or other third-party payer coverage. There can be no guarantee that we will continue to experience the same collection rates that we have in the past. If actual future collections are more or less than those projected by management, adjustments to allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care may be required. Based on related patient transport revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, a change of 100 basis points in the percentage of estimated contractual discounts and uncompensated care would have resulted in a change of approximately $27.1 million in net patient transport revenue.

Revenue related to fixed fee medical interior and products contracts is recorded as costs are incurred using the percentage of completion method of accounting. We estimate the percentage of completion based on costs incurred to date as a percentage of an estimate of the total costs to complete the project. Losses on contracts in process are recognized when determined. If total costs to complete a project are greater or less than estimated, the gross margin on the project may be greater or less than originally recorded under the percentage of completion method.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for public entities to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption will be permitted as of the original effective date (i.e., for periods beginning after December 15, 2016). The ASU permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. We have not yet selected a transition method and are currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Deferred Income Taxes

In preparation of the consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as depreciable assets, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the consolidated balance sheets. We then assess the likelihood that deferred tax assets will be recoverable from future taxable income in the respective federal or state jurisdiction as appropriate and record a valuation allowance for those amounts we believe are not likely to be realized. We consider estimated future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and the expected timing of reversals of existing temporary differences in assessing the need for a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets. Establishing or increasing a valuation allowance in a period increases income tax expense. In the event we were to determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would be charged to income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, should we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of our net recorded amount, an adjustment to the valuation allowance would increase income in the period such determination was made. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in statutory tax rates applicable to the Company is also recognized in income in the period of the change. We evaluate the recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions based on the facts and circumstances surrounding the tax position and applicable tax law and other tax pronouncements. Changes in our estimates of uncertain tax positions would be recognized as an adjustment to income tax expense in the period of the change.

23

Long-lived Assets Valuation

In accounting for long-lived assets, we make estimates about the expected useful lives, projected residual values and the potential for impairment. Estimates of useful lives and residual values of aircraft are based upon actual industry experience with the same or similar aircraft types and anticipated utilization of the aircraft. Changing market prices of new and used aircraft, government regulations and changes in our maintenance program or operations could result in changes to these estimates. Long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of long-lived assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Our cash flow estimates are based on historical results adjusted for estimated current industry trends, the economy, and operating conditions.

Goodwill Valuation

We evaluate goodwill annually in accordance with ASU No. 2011-08, Testing for Goodwill Impairment, which allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. Factors considered include overall economic conditions within our markets, access to capital, changes in the cost of operations, the financial performance of the Company, and change in our stock price during the year. Based upon our qualitative assessment of factors impacting the value of goodwill as of December 31, 2015, we determined that it was not likely that the fair value of any reporting unit was less than its carrying amount and that a quantitative assessment of goodwill was not necessary. Changes in these factors or a sustained decline in general economic conditions could change our conclusion regarding an impairment of goodwill and potentially result in a non-cash impairment loss in a future period.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

There have been no material changes in market risk at September 30, 2016, from that reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, except as follows:

We are subject to interest rate risk on our debt obligations and notes receivable, all of which have fixed interest rates except our line of credit, which had an outstanding balance of $15 million at September 30, 2016, and $446.1 million in notes payable. Based on the amounts outstanding at September 30, 2016, the annual impact of a change of 100 basis points in interest rates would be approximately $4.6 million. Interest rates on these instruments approximate current market rates as of September 30, 2016.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and forms, and that information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and financial officers (referred to in this report as the Certifying Officers), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Certifying Officers, evaluated the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2016, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the Certifying Officers have concluded that, as of September 30, 2016, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There were no significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

24

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Not Applicable

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the three months ended September 30, 2016, we purchased shares of our common stock on the open market as follows:

							Approximate
					Total Number of		Maximum Dollar
					Shares Purchased as		Value of Shares that
	Total Number				Part of Publicly		May Yet Be
	of Shares		Average Price		Announced Plans or		Purchased Under the
Period	Purchased		Paid per Share		Programs		Plan or Program
July 1 – 31, 2016		536,000	$	36.98		536,000		$128.5 million
August 1 – 31, 2016		262,000	$	33.22		262,000		$119.8 million
September 1 – 30, 2016		896,500	$	33.03		896,500		$90.2 million

On August 6, 2015, we publicly announced our Board of Directors’ approval of a repurchase program of up to $200 million of our common stock. The program as approved by the Board does not have an expiration date; however, future purchases may be subject to restrictions by the terms of our senior credit facility.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

Not Applicable

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable

Item 5. Other Information

Not Applicable

Item 6. Exhibits

31.1	Chief Executive Officer Certification adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2	Chief Financial Officer Certification adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32	Certification adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

25

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

	AIR METHODS CORPORATION
Date: November 4, 2016	By	/s/ Aaron D. Todd
		Aaron D. Todd
		Chief Executive Officer
Date: November 4, 2016	By	/s/ Peter P. Csapo
		Peter P. Csapo
		Chief Financial Officer
Date: November 4, 2016	By	/s/ Sharon J. Keck
		Sharon J. Keck
		Chief Accounting Officer

26

EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Aaron D. Todd, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Air Methods Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 4, 2016

/s/ Aaron D. Todd

Aaron D. Todd 

Chief Executive Officer

EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Peter P. Csapo, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Air Methods Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 4, 2016

/s/ Peter P. Csapo

Peter P. Csapo

Chief Financial Officer

EX-32

EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Air Methods Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ Aaron D. Todd

Aaron D. Todd

Chief Executive Officer

November 4, 2016

/s/ Peter P. Csapo

Peter P. Csapo

Chief Financial Officer

November, 2016

XML

Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Oct. 28, 2016
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	AIR METHODS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000816159
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		36,391,523
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 7,417	$ 5,808
Receivables:
Trade, net (notes 1 and 4)	385,747	360,542
Refundable income taxes	26,947	2,674
Other	2,973	3,402
Total receivables	415,667	366,618
Inventories	49,490	46,377
Work-in-process on medical interiors and products contracts	4,449	4,024
Assets held for sale	6,054	16,369
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts	2,223	961
Refundable deposits	5,002	7,594
Prepaid expenses and other (note 6)	10,838	9,850
Total current assets	501,140	457,601
Property and equipment:
Land	251	251
Flight and ground support equipment	958,411	835,380
Aircraft under capital leases	149,814	168,725
Aircraft rotable spare parts	35,591	34,688
Buildings and office equipment	68,180	62,503
Property and equipment, gross	1,212,247	1,101,547
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(339,455)	(301,891)
Net property and equipment	872,792	799,656
Goodwill (note 2)	211,418	127,732
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $37,625 and $28,093 at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	193,713	129,899
Other assets	23,858	21,062
Total assets	1,802,921	1,535,950
Current liabilities:
Notes payable	7,229	2,955
Current installments of long-term debt	55,040	37,897
Current installments of obligations under capital leases	17,923	20,407
Accounts payable	35,704	30,912
Deferred revenue	2,345	2,294
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts	2,079	1,250
Accrued wages and compensated absences	27,801	19,419
Due to third party payers	13,302	12,292
Other accrued liabilities	20,888	21,044
Total current liabilities	182,311	148,470
Long-term debt, less current installments	803,120	567,226
Obligations under capital leases, less current installments	52,344	68,389
Deferred income taxes (note 1)	204,714	166,836
Other liabilities	9,465	12,293
Total liabilities	1,251,954	963,214
Redeemable non-controlling interests		8,550
Stockholders' equity (notes 1 and 3):
Preferred stock, $1 par value. Authorized 15,000,000 shares, none issued
Common stock, $.06 par value. Authorized 70,500,000 shares; issued 39,604,689 and 39,511,350 shares at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively; outstanding 36,391,523 and 39,003,026 shares at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	2,355	2,353
Additional paid-in capital	134,777	128,767
Treasury stock at cost, 3,051,220 and 320,988 shares at September 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, respectively	(109,881)	(13,457)
Retained earnings	525,112	447,840
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,396)	(1,317)
Total stockholders' equity	550,967	564,186
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,802,921	$ 1,535,950

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars)	$ 37,625	$ 28,093
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	15,000,000	15,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.06
Common stock, shares authorized	70,500,000	70,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	39,604,689	39,511,350
Common stock, shares outstanding	36,391,523	39,003,026
Treasury stock, shares	3,051,220	320,988

XML

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenue:
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts (note 4)	$ 399,347	$ 383,641	$ 1,146,147	$ 983,360
Provision for uncompensated care (notes 1 and 4)	(169,441)	(160,799)	(503,099)	(421,690)
Patient transport revenue, net	229,906	222,842	643,048	561,670
Air medical services contract revenue	34,563	40,329	102,382	119,743
Tourism and charter revenue	38,781	36,212	98,242	98,877
Medical interiors and products revenue	4,536	8,379	18,899	16,966
Dispatch and billing service revenue	3,226	3,580	10,411	10,739
Total revenue	311,012	311,342	872,982	807,995
Operating expenses:
Flight centers	117,958	100,649	333,468	293,060
Air medical aircraft operations	36,512	32,876	103,196	101,445
Tourism operating expenses	24,700	22,519	65,930	65,462
Cost of medical interiors and products sold	4,748	6,712	17,093	13,442
Cost of dispatch and billing services	4,790	3,467	12,608	9,378
Depreciation and amortization	23,587	20,884	69,652	62,082
Loss on disposition of assets, net	386	2,607	564	2,876
General and administrative	41,079	39,351	120,463	108,698
Operating expense	253,760	229,065	722,974	656,443
Operating income	57,252	82,277	150,008	151,552
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	(8,146)	(4,893)	(23,854)	(15,041)
Other, net	585	(266)	1,359	1,270
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	49,691	77,118	127,513	137,781
Income tax expense (note 1)	(19,077)	(30,235)	(49,494)	(53,843)
Income from continuing operations	30,614	46,883	78,019	83,938
Loss on discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(29)		(378)
Net income	30,614	46,854	78,019	83,560
Less net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests		202	(30)	684
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	30,614	46,652	78,049	82,876
Other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(92)	(340)	(79)	(800)
Comprehensive income	$ 30,522	$ 46,312	$ 77,970	$ 82,076
Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.82	$ 1.17	$ 2.03	$ 2.10
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	0.82	1.17	2.03	2.09
Diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.82	1.16	2.02	2.09
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)				(0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.82	$ 1.16	$ 2.02	$ 2.08
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	37,354,787	39,293,453	38,181,918	39,276,062
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	37,413,828	39,420,354	38,260,743	39,408,239

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 78,019	$ 83,560
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		378
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	69,652	62,082
Deferred income tax expense	37,878	4,376
Stock-based compensation	5,129	5,733
Amortization of debt issuance costs	929	697
Loss on disposition of assets, net	564	2,876
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instrument	(531)	369
Loss from equity method investee	395	1,193
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets	2,822	641
Increase in receivables	(21,591)	(51,301)
Increase in inventories	(1,001)	(797)
Increase in costs in excess of billings	(1,262)	(2,188)
Increase in accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, and other liabilities	1,420	18,770
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue and billings in excess of costs	880	(178)
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities	173,303	126,211
Net cash used by discontinued operating activities		(100)
Net cash provided by operating activities	173,303	126,111
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of subsidiaries	(225,519)
Acquisition of property and equipment	(74,025)	(95,494)
Acquisition of hospital program		(43,481)
Buy-out of previously leased aircraft	(13,123)	(9,519)
Proceeds from disposition and sale of equipment and assets held for sale	6,209	3,642
Increase in other assets	(3,194)	(11,597)
Net cash used by continuing investing activities	(309,652)	(156,449)
Net cash provided by discontinued investing activities		25
Net cash used in investing activities	(309,652)	(156,424)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	803	409
Purchases of common stock	(96,424)
Borrowings under line of credit	95,000	50,000
Payments under line of credit	(80,000)	(50,000)
Payments for financing costs	(73)	(4,472)
Proceeds from long-term debt	276,000	105,525
Payments of long-term debt	(38,819)	(45,251)
Payments of capital lease obligations	(18,529)	(24,100)
Net cash provided by continuing financing activities	137,958	32,111
Net cash provided by discontinued financing activities
Net cash provided by financing activities	137,958	32,111
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,609	1,798
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	5,808	13,165
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	7,417	14,963
Interest paid in cash during the period	22,930	14,366
Income taxes paid in cash during the period	$ 37,247	$ 27,950

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) (Parentheticals) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Entered into notes payable to finance the purchase of aircraft	$ 7,229	$ 11,112
Entered into capital leases to finance the purchase of equipment		354
Settlement of notes payable in exchange for the aircraft securing the debt	$ 2,955	$ 11,442

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated financial statements for the respective periods. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company considers its critical accounting policies involving more significant judgments and estimates to be those related to revenue recognition, deferred income taxes, valuation of long-lived assets, and fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements

During the third quarter of 2016, the Company identified errors in the mathematical formula used to calculate its allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care related to patient transport receivables. The errors caused net receivables to be overstated for open accounts which had been partially collected and understated for open accounts which had been partially discounted. The Company has evaluated the impact of these errors and concluded it was not material to any previously issued financial statements. The Company has elected to revise the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2015, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, presented in this report and will revise its previously issued financial statements to correct these errors when the financial statements are presented in future periodic filings.

As of December 31, 2015, the revisions decreased net trade receivables and total assets by $15.8 million, deferred income taxes by $6.1 million, and retained earnings by $9.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the revisions increased the provision for uncompensated care by $5.2 million and decreased income tax expense by $2.0 million and net income attributable to the Company and its subsidiaries by $3.2 million. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, decreased $0.08. Notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have also been revised consistent with these adjustments, as appropriate.

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Acquisition of Subsidiaries

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisition of Subsidiaries

(2) Acquisition of Subsidiaries

Tri-State Care Flight, LLC

On January 19, 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the membership interest of Tri-State Care Flight, LLC (TSCF), for a cash purchase price of $222.5 million plus an initial estimated working capital adjustment of $11.2 million. TSCF provided air medical transport services in the southwestern United States under the community-based service delivery model, utilizing a fleet of 22 helicopters and five fixed-wing aircraft. As of March 31, 2016, the Company recorded a receivable of $811,000 for the decrease to the purchase price related to the change in working capital, and the amount was received in the second quarter of 2016. The purchase price was financed primarily through additional term loans and draws against the line of credit under the Company’s senior credit facility.

The Company is in the process of verifying open aircraft parts repair orders and confirming other liabilities relating to pre-acquisition events. In addition, the Company is analyzing the payer mix and historical collection data related to patient transport receivables as of the acquisition date. For these reasons, the allocation of the purchase price is still subject to refinement. The allocation of the purchase price was as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Initial						Revised
	Allocation			Adjustments			Allocation
Assets purchased:
Receivables	$	30,695			(3,180	)		27,515
Aircraft		30,501						30,501
Goodwill		80,690			3,013			83,703
Other intangible assets		74,000						74,000
Other assets		26,845			3			26,848
Total assets		242,731			(164	)		242,567
Total liabilities assumed		(9,864	)		164			(9,700	)
Purchase price	$	232,867			—			232,867

Net revenue and income (loss) before income taxes and allocation of corporate administrative expenses generated by TSCF’s operations since the acquisition date have been included with those of the Company in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income as follows (amounts in thousands):

	Three months ended			Nine months ended
	September 30, 2016			September 30, 2016
Net revenue	$	14,000			40,429
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate administrative expense allocation		(178	)		999

Operating results shown above for TSCF do not include the effect of patient transports retained at base locations where a TSCF base was consolidated into a previously existing Company base.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents combined financial results for the Company and TSCF for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, assuming the acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2015 (amounts in thousands, except per share amounts):

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015		September 30, 2015
Revenue	$	331,518		871,159
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	49,872		94,365
Basic income per common share	$	1.25		2.38
Diluted income per common share	$	1.24		2.37

The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not necessarily represent what the Company’s results of operations would have been had the acquisition occurred on the date assumed, nor is the information indicative of results that may be expected in future periods. Pro forma adjustments exclude cost savings from synergies that may result from the acquisition.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company’s partners exercised their right to require the Company to acquire their 10% ownership interest in Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC. During the first and second quarters of 2016, the Company completed the buyout for $9,173,000.

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Stockholders' Equity

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Stockholders' Equity

(3) Stockholders’ Equity

Changes in stockholders’ equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016, consisted of the following (amounts in thousands except share amounts):

	Shares
	Outstanding			Amount
Balances at January 1, 2016		39,003,026		$	564,186
Issuance of common stock for options exercised		45,360			803
Stock-based compensation		73,369			5,129
Purchase of common stock		(2,730,232	)		(96,424	)
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends		—			14
Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interests		—			(711	)
Other comprehensive loss		—			(79	)
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		—			78,049
Balances at September 30, 2016		36,391,523		$	550,967

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Patient Transport Revenue Recognition

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Patient Transport Revenue Recognition [Abstract]

Patient Transport Revenue Recognition

(4) Patient Transport Revenue Recognition

Trade receivables are presented net of allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care. The Company determines its allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care based on estimated payer mix, payer reimbursement schedules, and historical collection experience. The allowances are reviewed monthly and adjusted periodically based on actual collections. Billings are charged off against the uncompensated care allowance when it is probable that the receivable will not be recovered. The allowance for contractual discounts is related primarily to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-sponsored insurance plan patients. The allowance for uncompensated care is related primarily to receivables recorded for self-pay patients.

Historically, the Company’s allowance and provision for contractual discounts were calculated based entirely on Medicare and Medicaid patient transports. The Company determined that uncollectible amounts related to other government-sponsored insurance plans and to private insurance carriers with whom the Company has established a contractual relationship should have been categorized as contractual discounts rather than as uncompensated care in prior periods. Effective in the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company presented these uncollectible amounts as contractual discounts and corrected the presentation in prior periods. As a result, the Company increased the provision for contractual discounts and correspondingly decreased the provision for uncompensated care by $19,480,000 and $66,405,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. The Company has also reclassified certain amounts for the first and second quarters of 2016 from the provision for uncompensated care to the provision for contractual discounts in order to conform with this presentation.

The Company has not changed its charitable care policies related to self-pay patients or deductible and copayment balances for insured patients during either 2016 or 2015. The allowance for uncompensated care was 55.3% of receivables from non-contract payers as of September 30, 2016, compared to 45.0% at December 31, 2015, and 59.9% at September 30, 2015.

The Company recognizes patient transport revenue at its standard rates for services provided, regardless of expected payer. In the period that services are provided and based upon historical experience, the Company records a significant provision for uncompensated care related to uninsured patients who will be unable or unwilling to pay for the services provided and a provision for contractual discounts related to Medicare, Medicaid, and other transports covered by contracts. Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts but before provision for uncompensated care, by major payer class, was as follows (amounts in thousands):

	For quarter ended				For nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Third-party payers	$	297,386		303,155		862,329		767,120
Self-pay		101,961		80,486		283,818		216,240
Total	$	399,347		383,641		1,146,147		983,360

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Income per Share

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Income per Share

(5) Income per Share

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by all common shares outstanding during the period and dilutive potential common shares.

In accordance with FASB ASC 480-10-S99, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, and solely for the purpose of calculating earnings per share, net income was increased by $155,000 and decreased by $711,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, and decreased by $800,000 and $918,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, for adjustments to the value of redeemable non-controlling interests.

The reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows:

	2016		2015
For quarter ended September 30:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		37,354,787		39,293,453
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options		1,468		27,886
Unvested restricted stock		49,814		92,449
Unvested performance share units		7,759		6,566
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		37,413,828		39,420,354
For nine months ended September 30:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		38,181,918		39,276,062
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options		4,929		35,752
Unvested restricted stock		69,189		95,489
Unvested performance share units		4,707		936
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		38,260,743		39,408,239

Common stock options totaling 958,567 and performance share units totaling 30,358 were not included in the diluted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Common stock options totaling 573,732 and 566,752 were not included in the diluted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, and performance share units totaling 68,340 were not included in the diluted shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Fair Value of Financial Instruments [Abstract]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

(6) Fair Value of Financial Instruments

ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” requires disclosures about how fair value is determined for assets and liabilities and establishes a hierarchy by which these assets and liabilities must be grouped based on the type of inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or

Level 3: unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, notes receivable, notes payable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities:

The carrying amounts approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

Derivative instruments:

The Company endeavors to acquire jet fuel at the lowest possible cost and to reduce volatility in operating expenses through the use of short-term purchased call options. Financial derivative instruments covering fuel purchases are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets at fair value. Fair value is determined based on quoted prices in active markets for similar instruments and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of all fuel derivative instruments included in prepaid expenses and other current assets was $770,000 at September 30, 2016, and $0 at December 31, 2015. The Company’s financial derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting, and, therefore, realized and non-cash mark to market adjustments are included in air medical aircraft operations and tourism operating expenses in the Company’s statements of comprehensive income. Operating expenses included a non-cash mark to market derivative loss of $439,000 and gain of $531,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively, compared to losses of $112,000 and $369,000 for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. Cash settlements totaled $343,000 and $439,000 in the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016. There were no cash settlements in 2015.

Long-term debt:

The fair value of long-term debt is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy because it is determined based on the present value of future contractual cash flows discounted at an interest rate that reflects the risks inherent in those cash flows. Based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and average maturities and on recent transactions, the fair value of long-term debt as of September 30, 2016, is estimated to be $874,727,000, compared to a carrying value of $858,160,000. The fair value of long-term debt as of December 31, 2015, was estimated to be $612,264,000, compared to a carrying value of $605,123,000.

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Business Segment Information

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Business Segment Information [Abstract]

Business Segment Information

(7) Business Segment Information

Summarized financial information for the Company’s operating segments is shown in the following table (amounts in thousands). Amounts in the “Corporate Activities” column represent corporate headquarters expenses, corporate income tax expense, and results of insignificant operations. The Company does not allocate assets between operating segments for internal reporting and performance evaluation purposes. Operating segments and their principal products or services are as follows:

· Air Medical Services (AMS) - provides air medical transportation services to the general population as an independent service and to hospitals or other institutions under exclusive operating agreements. Services include aircraft operation and maintenance, medical care, dispatch and communications, and medical billing and collection.

· Tourism – provides helicopter tours and charter flights, primarily focusing on Grand Canyon and Hawaiian Island tours.

· United Rotorcraft (UR) Division - designs, manufactures, and installs aircraft medical interiors and other aerospace and medical transport products for domestic and international customers.

										Corporate			Intersegment
For quarter ended September 30:	AMS			Tourism			UR			Activities			Eliminations			Consolidated
2016
External revenue	$	267,699			38,781			4,532			—			—			311,012
Intersegment revenue		—			—			3,173			—			(3,173	)		—
Total revenue		267,699			38,781			7,705			—			(3,173	)		311,012
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(184,740	)		(29,155	)		(7,676	)		(11,272	)		2,670			(230,173	)
Depreciation & amortization		(19,808	)		(2,317	)		(853	)		(609	)		—			(23,587	)
Interest expense		(6,488	)		(1,070	)		—			(584	)		(4	)		(8,146	)
Other income (expense), net		670			16			—			(105	)		4			585
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(19,077	)		—			(19,077	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	57,333			6,255			(824	)		(31,647	)		(503	)		30,614
2015
External revenue	$	266,751			36,212			8,379			—			—			311,342
Intersegment revenue		—			—			4,803			—			(4,803	)		—
Total revenue		266,751			36,212			13,182			—			(4,803	)		311,342
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(160,200	)		(28,303	)		(11,127	)		(12,757	)		4,206			(208,181	)
Depreciation & amortization		(17,412	)		(2,002	)		(873	)		(597	)		—			(20,884	)
Interest expense		(3,747	)		(783	)		—			(366	)		3			(4,893	)
Other income (expense), net		524			—			—			(787	)		(3	)		(266	)
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(30,235	)		—			(30,235	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		85,916			5,124			1,182			(44,742	)		(597	)		46,883
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(29	)		—			—			—			—			(29	)
Segment net income (loss)		85,887			5,124			1,182			(44,742	)		(597	)		46,854
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(22	)		224			—			—			—			202
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	85,909			4,900			1,182			(44,742	)		(597	)		46,652

										Corporate			Intersegment
For nine months ended September 30:	AMS			Tourism			UR			Activities			Eliminations			Consolidated
2016
External revenue	$	755,853			98,242			18,887			—			—			872,982
Intersegment revenue		—			—			12,249			—			(12,249	)		—
Total revenue		755,853			98,242			31,136			—			(12,249	)		872,982
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(520,255	)		(79,470	)		(28,257	)		(35,718	)		10,378			(653,322	)
Depreciation & amortization		(58,373	)		(6,898	)		(2,598	)		(1,783	)		—			(69,652	)
Interest expense		(19,090	)		(3,185	)		—			(1,583	)		4			(23,854	)
Other income (expense), net		1,606			50			—			(293	)		(4	)		1,359
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(49,494	)		—			(49,494	)
Segment net income (loss)		159,741			8,739			281			(88,871	)		(1,871	)		78,019
Less net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		(30	)		—			—			—			—			(30	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	159,771			8,739			281			(88,871	)		(1,871	)		78,049
2015
External revenue	$	692,152			98,877			16,962			4			—			807,995
Intersegment revenue		—			—			17,923			—			(17,923	)		—
Total revenue		692,152			98,877			34,885			4			(17,923	)		807,995
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(466,493	)		(80,239	)		(30,261	)		(33,748	)		16,380			(594,361	)
Depreciation & amortization		(52,026	)		(5,791	)		(2,529	)		(1,736	)		—			(62,082	)
Interest expense		(11,169	)		(2,439	)		—			(1,440	)		7			(15,041	)
Other income (expense), net		2,339			3			—			(1,065	)		(7	)		1,270
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(53,843	)		—			(53,843	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		164,803			10,411			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		83,938
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(378	)		—			—			—			—			(378	)
Segment net income (loss)		164,425			10,411			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		83,560
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(82	)		766			—			—			—			684
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	164,507			9,645			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		82,876

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New Accounting Pronouncements

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

New Accounting Pronouncements

(8) New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides specific guidance for the classification of eight types of cash receipts or payments on the statement of cash flow. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and must be adopted retrospectively. The Company does not expect implementation to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, forfeitures, and statement of cash flow classification. The Company elected to adopt the ASU effective January 1, 2016, as permitted, and to recognize forfeitures of equity awards as they occur. Consequently, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect reduction of $80,000 in retained earnings as of January 1, 2016, for the change in accounting for forfeitures. In addition, an excess tax benefit of $184,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, has been reclassified from financing activities to operating activities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. All other provisions of the ASU have been adopted prospectively, as required.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU No. 2015-03, Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires that debt issuance costs be presented as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Debt issuance costs of $1,194,000 and $4,379,000 as of December 31, 2015, have been reclassified from other assets to current installments of long-term debt and long-term debt, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a number of optional practical expedients. The Company has not yet determined which, if any, of the optional practical expedients it may elect to apply nor the effect that the ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for public entities to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption will be permitted as of the original effective date (i.e., for periods beginning after December 15, 2016). In 2016, the FASB issued ASU Nos. 2016-08, 2016-10, and 2016-12 to clarify guidance on specific provisions within ASU No. 2014-09. ASU No. 2014-09 permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. Accordingly, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated financial statements for the respective periods. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. The Company considers its critical accounting policies involving more significant judgments and estimates to be those related to revenue recognition, deferred income taxes, valuation of long-lived assets, and fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements

New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides specific guidance for the classification of eight cash receipts or payments on the statement of cash flow. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and must be adopted retrospectively. The Company does not expect implementation to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income tax consequences, forfeitures, and statement of cash flow classification. The Company elected to adopt the ASU effective January 1, 2016, as permitted, and to recognize forfeitures of equity awards as they occur. Consequently, the Company recorded a cumulative-effect reduction of $80,000 in retained earnings as of January 1, 2016, for the change in accounting for forfeitures. In addition, an excess tax benefit of $184,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, has been reclassified from financing activities to operating activities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. All other provisions of the ASU have been adopted prospectively, as required.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted ASU No. 2015-03, Imputation of Interest: Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs, which requires that debt issuance costs be presented as a deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability. Debt issuance costs of $1,194,000 and $4,379,000 as of December 31, 2015, have been reclassified from other assets to current installments of long-term debt and long-term debt, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize a lease liability and right-of-use asset for all leases, with the exception of short-term leases. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach, with a number of optional practical expedients. The Company has not yet determined which, if any, of the optional practical expedients it may elect to apply nor the effect that the ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for public entities to annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, although early adoption will be permitted as of the original effective date (i.e., for periods beginning after December 15, 2016). In 2016, the FASB issued ASU Nos. 2016-08, 2016-10, and 2016-12 to clarify guidance on specific provisions within ASU No. 2014-09. ASU No. 2014-09 permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company has not yet selected a transition method and is currently evaluating the effect that ASU No. 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

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Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of purchase price allocation

	Initial						Revised
	Allocation			Adjustments			Allocation
Assets purchased:
Receivables	$	30,695			(3,180	)		27,515
Aircraft		30,501						30,501
Goodwill		80,690			3,013			83,703
Other intangible assets		74,000						74,000
Other assets		26,845			3			26,848
Total assets		242,731			(164	)		242,567
Total liabilities assumed		(9,864	)		164			(9,700	)
Purchase price	$	232,867			—			232,867

Schedule of net revenue and income before income taxes and allocation of corporate administrative expenses since the acquisition date

	Three months ended			Nine months ended
	September 30, 2016			September 30, 2016
Net revenue	$	14,000			40,429
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate administrative expense allocation		(178	)		999

Schedule of pro forma information

	Three months ended		Nine months ended
	September 30, 2015		September 30, 2015
Revenue	$	331,518		871,159
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	49,872		94,365
Basic income per common share	$	1.25		2.38
Diluted income per common share	$	1.24		2.37

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Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of changes in stockholders' equity

	Shares
	Outstanding			Amount
Balances at January 1, 2016		39,003,026		$	564,186
Issuance of common stock for options exercised		45,360			803
Stock-based compensation		73,369			5,129
Purchase of common stock		(2,730,232	)		(96,424	)
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends		—			14
Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interests		—			(711	)
Other comprehensive loss		—			(79	)
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		—			78,049
Balances at September 30, 2016		36,391,523		$	550,967

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Patient Transport Revenue Recognition (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Patient Transport Revenue Recognition [Abstract]

Schedule of patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts, before provision for uncompensated care, by major payer class

	For quarter ended				For nine months ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Third-party payers	$	297,386		303,155		862,329		767,120
Self-pay		101,961		80,486		283,818		216,240
Total	$	399,347		383,641		1,146,147		983,360

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Income per Share (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Schedule of reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

	2016		2015
For quarter ended September 30:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		37,354,787		39,293,453
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options		1,468		27,886
Unvested restricted stock		49,814		92,449
Unvested performance share units		7,759		6,566
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		37,413,828		39,420,354
For nine months ended September 30:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		38,181,918		39,276,062
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options		4,929		35,752
Unvested restricted stock		69,189		95,489
Unvested performance share units		4,707		936
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		38,260,743		39,408,239

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Business Segment Information (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2016

Business Segment Information [Abstract]

Schedule of summarized financial information for operating segments

										Corporate				Intersegment
For quarter ended September 30:	AMS			Tourism			UR				Activities				Eliminations			Consolidated
2016
External revenue	$	267,699			38,781			4,532				—				—			311,012
Intersegment revenue		—			—			3,173				—				(3,173	)		—
Total revenue		267,699			38,781			7,705				—				(3,173	)		311,012
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(184,740	)		(29,155	)		(7,676	)			(11,272	)			2,670			(230,173	)
Depreciation & amortization		(19,808	)		(2,317	)		(853	)			(609	)			—			(23,587	)
Interest expense		(6,488	)		(1,070	)		—				(584	)			(4	)		(8,146	)
Other income (expense), net		670			16			—				(105	)			4			585
Income tax expense		—			—			—				(19,077	)			—			(19,077	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	57,333			6,255			(824	)			(31,647	)			(503	)		30,614
2015
External revenue	$	266,751			36,212			8,379				—				—			311,342
Intersegment revenue		—			—			4,803				—				(4,803	)		—
Total revenue		266,751			36,212			13,182				—				(4,803	)		311,342
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(160,200	)		(28,303	)		(11,127	)			(12,757	)			4,206			(208,181	)
Depreciation & amortization		(17,412	)		(2,002	)		(873	)			(597	)			—			(20,884	)
Interest expense		(3,747	)		(783	)		—				(366	)			3			(4,893	)
Other income (expense), net		524			—			—				(787	)			(3	)		(266	)
Income tax expense		—			—			—				(30,235	)			—			(30,235	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		85,916			5,124			1,182				(44,742	)			(597	)		46,883
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(29	)		—			—				—				—			(29	)
Segment net income (loss)		85,887			5,124			1,182				(44,742	)			(597	)		46,854
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(22	)		224			—				—				—			202
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	85,909			4,900			1,182				(44,742	)			(597	)		46,652

										Corporate			Intersegment
For nine months ended September 30:	AMS			Tourism			UR			Activities			Eliminations			Consolidated
2016
External revenue	$	755,853			98,242			18,887			—			—			872,982
Intersegment revenue		—			—			12,249			—			(12,249	)		—
Total revenue		755,853			98,242			31,136			—			(12,249	)		872,982
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(520,255	)		(79,470	)		(28,257	)		(35,718	)		10,378			(653,322	)
Depreciation & amortization		(58,373	)		(6,898	)		(2,598	)		(1,783	)		—			(69,652	)
Interest expense		(19,090	)		(3,185	)		—			(1,583	)		4			(23,854	)
Other income (expense), net		1,606			50			—			(293	)		(4	)		1,359
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(49,494	)		—			(49,494	)
Segment net income (loss)		159,741			8,739			281			(88,871	)		(1,871	)		78,019
Less net loss attributable to non-controlling interests		(30	)		—			—			—			—			(30	)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	159,771			8,739			281			(88,871	)		(1,871	)		78,049
2015
External revenue	$	692,152			98,877			16,962			4			—			807,995
Intersegment revenue		—			—			17,923			—			(17,923	)		—
Total revenue		692,152			98,877			34,885			4			(17,923	)		807,995
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization		(466,493	)		(80,239	)		(30,261	)		(33,748	)		16,380			(594,361	)
Depreciation & amortization		(52,026	)		(5,791	)		(2,529	)		(1,736	)		—			(62,082	)
Interest expense		(11,169	)		(2,439	)		—			(1,440	)		7			(15,041	)
Other income (expense), net		2,339			3			—			(1,065	)		(7	)		1,270
Income tax expense		—			—			—			(53,843	)		—			(53,843	)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		164,803			10,411			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		83,938
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(378	)		—			—			—			—			(378	)
Segment net income (loss)		164,425			10,411			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		83,560
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(82	)		766			—			—			—			684
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	164,507			9,645			2,095			(91,828	)		(1,543	)		82,876

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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - Error Corrections Adjustments - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Decreased net trade receivables and total assets		$ 15.8
Retained earnings		9.7
Increased provision for uncompensated care	$ 5.2
Decreased income tax expense	2.0
Decreased deferred income taxes		$ 6.1
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$ 3.2
Basic and diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.08

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Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Details)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jan. 19, 2016 USD ($) helicopters fixed_wing_aircraft	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimate of decrease to purchase price for adjustments			$ 811,000
Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash purchase price		$ 9,173,000
Ownership interest acquired by partners				10.00%
Tri-State Care Flight, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership interest acquired	100.00%
Cash purchase price	$ 222,500,000
Estimated working capital adjustment	$ 11,200,000
Number of helicopters use for community based service delivery model | helicopters	22
Number of fixed wing aircraft use for community based service delivery model | fixed_wing_aircraft	5

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Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Assets purchased:
Goodwill	$ 211,418		$ 127,732
Tri-State Care Flight, LLC
Assets purchased:
Receivables	27,515
Aircraft	30,501
Goodwill	83,703
Other intangible assets	74,000
Other assets	26,848
Total assets	242,567
Total liabilities assumed	(9,700)
Purchase price	232,867
Tri-State Care Flight, LLC | Previously Reported
Assets purchased:
Receivables		$ 30,695
Aircraft		30,501
Goodwill		80,690
Other intangible assets		74,000
Other assets		26,845
Total assets		242,731
Total liabilities assumed		(9,864)
Purchase price		$ 232,867
Tri-State Care Flight, LLC | Adjustments
Adjustments
Receivables	(3,180)
Goodwill	3,013
Other assets	3
Total assets	(164)
Total liabilities assumed	164
Purchase price

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Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Details 2) - Tri-State Care Flight, LLC - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Net revenue	$ 14,000	$ 40,429
Income (loss) before income taxes and corporate administrative expense allocation	$ (178)	$ 999

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Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Details 3) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 331,518	$ 871,159
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$ 49,872	$ 94,365
Basic income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.25	$ 2.38
Diluted income per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.24	$ 2.37

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Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balances at January 1, 2016			$ 564,186
Balances at January 1, 2016 (in shares)			39,003,026
Issuance of common stock for options exercised			$ 803
Issuance of common stock for options exercised (in shares)			45,360
Stock-based compensation			$ 5,129
Stock-based compensation (in shares)			73,369
Purchase of common stock			$ (96,424)
Purchase of common stock (in shares)			(2,730,232)
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends			$ 14
Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interests	$ 155	$ (800)	(711)	$ (918)
Other comprehensive income			(79)
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	30,614	$ 46,652	78,049	$ 82,876
Balances at September 30, 2016	$ 550,967		$ 550,967
Balances at September 30, 2016 (in shares)	36,391,523		36,391,523

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Patient Transport Revenue Recognition (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Adjustment to provision for contractual discounts		$ 19,480,000		$ 66,405,000
Adjustment to provision for uncompensated care		$ (19,480,000)		$ (66,405,000)
Allowance for uncompensated care as a percentage of receivables from all non-contract payers (in hundredths)	55.30%	59.90%	55.30%	59.90%	45.00%
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts	$ 399,347,000	$ 383,641,000	$ 1,146,147,000	$ 983,360,000
Third-party payers
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts	297,386,000	303,155,000	862,329,000	767,120,000
Self-pay
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts	$ 101,961,000	$ 80,486,000	$ 283,818,000	$ 216,240,000

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Income per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Increase (decrease) in net income due to adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interest	$ 155	$ (800)	$ (711)	$ (918)
Reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)	37,354,787	39,293,453	38,181,918	39,276,062
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options (in shares)	1,468	27,886	4,929	35,752
Unvested restricted stock	49,814	92,449	69,189	95,489
Unvested performance share units (in shares)	7,759	6,566	4,707	936
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)	37,413,828	39,420,354	38,260,743	39,408,239
Common stock options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted income per share (in shares)	958,567	573,732	958,567	566,752
Performance share units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted income per share (in shares)	30,358	68,340	30,358	68,340

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Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Non-cash mark to market derivative gain (losses)			$ 531,000	$ (369,000)
Estimate of Fair Value
Fair value of financial instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt, fair value disclosure	$ 874,727,000		874,727,000		$ 612,264,000
Carrying Amount
Fair value of financial instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt, fair value disclosure	858,160,000		858,160,000		605,123,000
Aircraft operations expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Non-cash mark to market derivative gain (losses)	(439,000)	$ (112,000)	531,000	(369,000)
Cash settlements	343,000	$ 0	439,000	$ 0
Fuel derivative contracts | Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Fair value of fuel derivative contracts	$ 770,000		$ 770,000		$ 0

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Business Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ 311,012	$ 311,342	$ 872,982	$ 807,995
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization	(230,173)	(208,181)	653,322	(594,361)
Depreciation & amortization	(23,587)	(20,884)	(69,652)	(62,082)
Interest expense	(8,146)	(4,893)	(23,854)	(15,041)
Other income, net	585	(266)	1,359	1,270
Income tax expense	(19,077)	(30,235)	(49,494)	(53,843)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	30,614	46,883	78,019	83,938
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(29)		(378)
Segment net income (loss)	30,614	46,854	78,019	83,560
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		202	(30)	684
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	30,614	46,652	78,049	82,876
External revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	311,012	311,342	872,982	807,995
Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Operating Segments | AMS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	267,699	266,751	755,853	692,152
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization	(184,740)	(160,200)	(520,255)	(466,493)
Depreciation & amortization	(19,808)	(17,412)	(58,373)	(52,026)
Interest expense	(6,488)	(3,747)	(19,090)	(11,169)
Other income, net	670	524	1,606	2,339
Income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations		85,916		164,803
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(29)		(378)
Segment net income (loss)		85,887	159,741	164,425
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(22)	(30)	(82)
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	57,333	85,909	159,771	164,507
Operating Segments | AMS | External revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	267,699	266,751	755,853	692,152
Operating Segments | AMS | Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Operating Segments | Tourism
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	38,781	36,212	98,242	98,877
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization	(29,155)	(28,303)	79,470	(80,239)
Depreciation & amortization	(2,317)	(2,002)	(6,898)	(5,791)
Interest expense	(1,070)	(783)	(3,185)	(2,439)
Other income, net	16		50	3
Income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations		5,124		10,411
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Segment net income (loss)		5,124	8,739	10,411
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		224		766
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	6,255	4,900	8,739	9,645
Operating Segments | Tourism | External revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	38,781	36,212	98,242	98,877
Operating Segments | Tourism | Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Operating Segments | UR
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	7,705	13,182	31,136	34,885
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization	(7,676)	(11,127)	(28,257)	(30,261)
Depreciation & amortization	(853)	(873)	(2,598)	(2,529)
Interest expense
Other income, net
Income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations		1,182		2,095
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Segment net income (loss)		1,182		2,095
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	(824)	1,182	281	2,095
Operating Segments | UR | External revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	4,532	8,379	18,887	16,962
Operating Segments | UR | Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	3,173	4,803	12,249	17,923
Corporate Activities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue				4
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization	(11,272)	(12,757)	(35,718)	(33,748)
Depreciation & amortization	(609)	(597)	(1,783)	(1,736)
Interest expense	(584)	(366)	(1,583)	(1,440)
Other income, net	(105)	(787)	(293)	(1,065)
Income tax expense	(19,077)	(30,235)		(53,843)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(44,742)		(91,828)
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Segment net income (loss)		(44,742)	(49,494)	(91,828)
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	(31,647)	(44,742)	(88,871)	(91,828)
Corporate Activities | External revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue				4
Corporate Activities | Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	(3,173)	(4,803)	(12,249)	(17,923)
Operating expenses, excluding depreciation & amortization	2,670	4,206	10,378	16,380
Depreciation & amortization
Interest expense	(4)	3	4	7
Other income, net	4	(3)	(4)	(7)
Income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(597)		(1,543)
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Segment net income (loss)		(597)	(1,871)	(1,543)
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	(503)	(597)	(1,871)	(1,543)
Intersegment Eliminations | External revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Intersegment Eliminations | Intersegment revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	$ (3,173)	$ (4,803)	$ (12,249)	$ (17,923)

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New Accounting Pronouncements (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]
Cumulative-effect reduction of in retained earnings	$ 80,000
Excess tax benefit reclassified from financing activities to operating activities		$ 184,000
Debt issuance costs reclassified to current installments of long term debt			$ 1,194,000
Debt issuance costs reclassified to long term debt			$ 4,379,000