Air Methods (AIRM) 10-K 27 Feb 15 2014 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Feb. 20, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	AIR METHODS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	816159
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		39,263,952
Entity Public Float			$1,843,834,000
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-14
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$13,165	$9,862
Receivables:
Trade, net (note 4 and 7)	293,985	237,856
Refundable income taxes	8,865	11,863
Other	4,802	953
Total receivables	307,652	250,672
Inventories (note 7)	46,095	47,804
Work-in-process on medical interiors and products contracts	4,610	5,313
Assets held for sale (note 3)	8,608	5,103
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts (note 5)	564	2,888
Refundable deposits	8,381	8,459
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (note 6)	10,766	10,449
Total current assets	399,841	340,550
Property and equipment (notes 7 and 8):
Land	251	251
Flight and ground support equipment	697,444	584,059
Aircraft under capital leases	196,302	246,752
Aircraft rotable spare parts	38,050	41,391
Buildings and office equipment	57,983	51,601
Property and equipment, gross	990,030	924,054
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	-268,049	-259,212
Net property and equipment	721,981	664,842
Goodwill (note 2 and 3)	127,269	128,121
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $19,282 and $13,397 at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively (notes 2 and 7)	83,654	88,215
Other assets	28,560	30,813
Total assets	1,361,305	1,252,541
Current liabilities:
Notes payable	11,442	2,616
Current installments of long-term debt (notes 6 and 7)	45,827	39,415
Current installments of obligations under capital leases (note 8)	23,954	29,116
Accounts payable	17,393	20,431
Deferred revenue	4,409	3,463
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts (note 5)	1,313	2,232
Accrued wages and compensated absences	31,539	24,346
Due to third party payers	7,426	7,789
Deferred income taxes (note 12)	21,427	13,748
Other accrued liabilities	15,537	19,162
Total current liabilities	180,267	162,318
Long-term debt, less current installments (notes 6 and 7)	466,839	477,038
Obligations under capital leases, less current installments (note 8)	96,534	131,249
Deferred income taxes (note 12)	122,715	86,131
Other liabilities (note 8)	16,060	19,733
Total liabilities	882,415	876,469
Redeemable non-controlling interests (note 2)	6,981	8,113
Stockholders' equity (notes 9 and 10):
Preferred stock, $1 par value. Authorized 15,000,000 shares, none issued
Common stock, $.06 par value. Authorized 70,500,000 shares; issued 39,452,753 and 39,301,407 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively; outstanding 39,228,948 and 39,064,437 shares at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively	2,349	2,343
Additional paid-in capital	120,391	112,890
Retained earnings	349,805	253,098
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-636	-372
Total stockholders' equity	471,909	367,959
Commitments and contingencies (notes 7, 8, 13, and 14)
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$1,361,305	$1,252,541

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Assets
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars)	$19,282	$13,397
Stockholders' equity (notes 8 and 9):
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$1	$1
Preferred stock, shares authorized	15,000,000	15,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued
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	39,452,753	39,301,407
Common stock, shares outstanding	39,228,948	39,064,437

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue:
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts (note 4)	$1,140,324	$968,985	$910,939
Provision for uncompensated care (note 4)	-464,111	-383,526	-320,221
Patient transport revenue, net	676,213	585,459	590,718
Air medical services contract revenue (note 11)	176,744	204,512	224,956
Tourism and charter revenue	116,036	56,591
Medical interiors and products revenue	24,844	24,305	28,832
Dispatch and billing service revenue	10,936	8,294	6,306
Total revenue	1,004,773	879,161	850,812
Operating expenses:
Flight centers	360,229	346,738	322,168
Aircraft operations (note 6)	130,487	148,972	151,200
Tourism operating expenses	77,864	38,606
Cost of medical interiors and products sold	24,275	23,363	21,236
Cost of dispatch and billing services	9,941	7,407	4,699
Depreciation and amortization	80,567	79,514	82,524
Loss on disposition of assets, net	455	519	1,329
General and administrative	137,477	112,502	97,324
Operating expense	821,295	757,621	680,480
Operating income	183,478	121,540	170,332
Other income (expense):
Interest expense	-21,750	-20,323	-20,651
Other, net	1,110	1,136	3,263
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	162,838	102,353	152,944
Income tax expense (note 12)	-63,460	-39,752	-59,792
Income from continuing operations	99,378	62,601	93,152
Loss on discontinued operations, net of income taxes (note 3)	-3,908	-532
Net income	95,470	62,069	93,152
Less net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests	599	-270
Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	94,871	62,339	93,152
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-264	-372
Comprehensive income	$94,607	$61,967	$93,152
Basic:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$2.57	$1.56	$2.41
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.10)	($0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$2.47	$1.55	$2.41
Diluted:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$2.56	$1.55	$2.39
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.10)	($0.01)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$2.46	$1.54	$2.39
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	39,163,080	38,923,206	38,594,286
Diluted (in shares)	39,348,291	39,210,392	39,044,468

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Total
In Thousands, except Share data
Balances at Dec. 31, 2011	$764	$95,960	$191,178		$287,902
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	38,398,680
Issuance of common shares for options	9	4,685			4,694
Issuance of common shares for options (in shares)	451,770
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options		3,447			3,447
Stock-based compensation (note 10)		2,044			2,044
Stock-based compensation (note 10) (in shares)	3,001
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends (in shares)	-15,996
Unvested restricted stock grants
Unvested restricted stock grants (in shares)	129,650
Stock split (note 9)	1,551	-1,551
Cash dividend (note 9)			-91,629		-91,629
Net income			93,152		93,152
Balances at Dec. 31, 2012	2,324	104,585	192,701		299,610
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	38,967,105
Issuance of common shares for options	19	1,730			1,749
Issuance of common shares for options (in shares)	229,506
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options		3,015			3,015
Stock-based compensation (note 10)		3,560			3,560
Stock-based compensation (note 10) (in shares)	14,850
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends			34		34
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends (in shares)	-14,204
Unvested restricted stock grants
Unvested restricted stock grants (in shares)	104,150
Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interest			-1,976		-1,976
Net income			62,339		62,339
Other comprehensive loss				-372	-372
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	2,343	112,890	253,098	-372	367,959
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	39,301,407
Issuance of common shares for options	6	1,416			1,422
Issuance of common shares for options (in shares)	112,847
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options		1,951			1,951
Stock-based compensation (note 10)		4,134			4,134
Stock-based compensation (note 10) (in shares)
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends			8		8
Forfeiture of unvested restricted shares and related dividends (in shares)	-7,501
Unvested restricted stock grants
Unvested restricted stock grants (in shares)	46,000
Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interest			1,828		1,828
Net income			94,871		94,871
Other comprehensive loss				-264	-264
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014	$2,349	$120,391	$349,805	($636)	$471,909
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	39,452,753

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$95,470	$62,069	$93,152
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes	3,908	532
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense	80,567	79,514	82,524
Deferred income tax expense	45,051	26,935	15,258
Stock-based compensation	4,134	3,560	2,044
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	-1,951	-3,015	-3,447
Loss on disposition of assets	455	519	1,329
Unrealized loss on derivative instrument	70	143	257
Loss from equity method investee	624	212
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Increase in receivables	-57,275	-8,638	-46,692
Decrease (increase) in inventories and work-in-process on medical interiors and products contracts	2,412	-5,860	-6,614
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets	-329	-7,792	12,803
Decrease (increase) in costs in excess of billings	2,324	-2,303	1,269
Increase in accounts payable, other accrued liabilities, and other liabilities	1,814	4,570	1,809
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue and billings in excess of costs	27	-54	-2,397
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities	177,301	150,392	151,295
Net cash used by discontinued operating activities	-1,672	-742
Net cash provided by operating activities	175,629	149,650	151,295
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of subsidiaries (note 2)	-3,182	-65,641	-47,912
Buy-out of previously leased aircraft	-28,751	-57,458	-65,661
Acquisition of property and equipment	-119,753	-62,410	-27,024
Proceeds from disposition and sale of equipment and assets held for sale	19,001	20,471	33,423
Decrease (increase) in other assets, net	1,316	-6,660	-2,825
Net cash used by continuing investing activities	-131,369	-171,698	-109,999
Net cash provided (used) by discontinued investing activities	97	-3,394
Net cash used by investing activities	-131,272	-175,092	-109,999
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,422	1,749	4,694
Payment of cash dividend			-91,629
Tax benefit from exercise of stock options	1,951	3,015	3,447
Borrowings under line of credit	30,000	69,370	135,738
Payments under line of credit	-42,000	-124,370	-80,008
Proceeds from long-term debt	89,911	194,628	111,888
Payments for financing costs	-126	-868	-888
Payments of long-term debt	-81,698	-27,653	-25,707
Payments of capital lease obligations	-40,612	-84,727	-98,575
Proceeds from non-controlling interests	98	342
Net cash provided (used) by continuing financing activities	-41,054	31,486	-41,040
Net cash provided (used) by discontinued financing activities
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	-41,054	31,486	-41,040
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	3,303	6,044	256
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	9,862	3,818	3,562
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	13,165	9,862	3,818
Interest paid in cash during the year	20,844	19,563	20,083
Income taxes paid in cash during the year	$15,386	$17,404	$43,041

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas1

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Parentheticals) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Entered into notes payable to finance the purchase of aircraft	$11,442	$2,616
Entered into capital leases to finance the purchase of equipment and purchase of aircraft and information systems hardware	735	5,412	48,947
Settled notes payable in exchange for the aircraft securing the debt	$2,616	$3,570	$27,940

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	(1)      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Basis of Financial Statement Presentation and Business
		Air Methods Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries (Air Methods or the Company) serves as a provider of air medical emergency transport services and systems throughout the United States of America. The Company also conducts aerial tours primarily in and around the Grand Canyon and Hawaiian Islands and designs, manufactures, and installs medical aircraft interiors and other aerospace and medical transport products for domestic and international customers. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all majority-owned subsidiaries over which the Company exercises control. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
		The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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, and valuation of long-lived assets and goodwill. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
		Cash and Cash Equivalents
		For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalent instruments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
		Trade Receivables, net
		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 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. Billings in excess of actual payment are charged off against the contractual allowance when payment is received. The allowance for contractual discounts is related primarily to Medicare and Medicaid patients. The allowance for uncompensated care is related primarily to receivables recorded for self-pay patients.
		Inventories
		Inventories are comprised primarily of expendable aircraft parts and manufactured parts for medical aircraft interiors and are recorded at the lower of cost (average cost) or market.
	Property and Equipment
		Hangars, equipment, and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost. All maintenance and repairs, including scheduled aircraft component overhauls and replacements, are expensed when incurred. Major modifications and costs incurred to place aircraft in service are capitalized. Improvements to leased helicopters and airplanes are included in flight and ground support equipment in the accompanying financial statements. Leasehold improvements to hangar and office space are included in buildings and office equipment in the accompanying financial statements. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the useful lives of the equipment or the lease term, as follows:
			Lives	Estimated
	Description			Residual value
	Buildings, including hangars		40 years	10	%
	Helicopters, including medical equipment		8 – 25 years	25-Oct	%
	Ground support equipment and rotables		5 – 10 years	0 - 10	%
	Furniture and office equipment		3 – 10 years	0	%
		Intangible Assets
		The Company recognized intangible assets related to trade names, customer lists, and other customer or contractual relationships as a result of its acquisitions. Useful lives are determined based on the estimated period of economic benefit, measured by the present value of associated cash flows, derived from each of these assets and range from five to sixteen years. Amortization expense, computed using the straight-line method, is estimated as follows: $4,600,000 in 2015, $4,337,000 in 2016, and $4,287,000 in each of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Intangible assets totaling $24.5 million have indefinite lives.
		The Company capitalizes incremental direct costs related to the application for multiple Supplemental Type Certificates (STC’s). STC’s are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and represent the FAA’s approval and certification of the airworthiness of an aircraft modification, such as a medical interior. A multiple STC allows the modification to be made to more than one aircraft without additional certification. STC costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful economic life of the STC, typically five years.
		Goodwill
		The Company accounts for goodwill under FASB ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Under ASC 350, goodwill and certain identifiable intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are reviewed for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of the statement. The Company did not recognize any losses related to impairment of goodwill in 2014, 2013, and 2012. See Note 3 for discussion of goodwill written off related to discontinued operations.
		Derivative Instruments
	The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments under FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASC 815 requires the Company to measure all derivatives at fair value and to recognize them in the balance sheet as an asset or liability. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are recognized in earnings in the current period. The Company’s derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments. Changes in the fair value of the fuel derivative instruments are reflected in fuel expense, included in aircraft operations expense, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
	Redeemable Non-controlling Interests
	In accordance with FASB ASC 480-10-S99, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, the Company adjusts the carrying amounts of redeemable non-controlling interests to current redemption amounts at the end of each reporting period. Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interests that affect the numerator of earnings per share calculations are accounted for as increases or decreases to retained earnings.
		Long-lived Assets
		The Company periodically reviews long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, 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. No impairment related to long-lived assets has been recognized in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
		Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less estimated selling costs. As of December 31, 2014, assets held for sale consisted primarily of eleven aircraft, which the Company intends to sell within one year. Periodically the Company identifies aircraft to be sold or used for spare parts as part of its long-term plan to phase out certain older models of aircraft and replace them with newer models.
	Revenue Recognition
		Fixed fee revenue under the Company’s operating agreements with hospitals and other institutions is recognized monthly over the terms of the agreements.
		Revenue relating to emergency and tourism flights is recognized upon completion of the services. Revenue relating to emergency flights is recorded net of provisions for contractual discounts and estimated uncompensated care. The Company has 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 the Medicare and Medicaid programs are very complex and subject to interpretation. The Company also provides services to patients who have no insurance or other third-party payer coverage. As a result, there is a reasonable possibility that recorded estimates will change materially in the short-term. Retroactive adjustments may change the amounts realized from third-party payers.
	The Company has contracts to manufacture and install medical equipment and modify aircraft for third parties. When the total cost to complete a project can be reasonably estimated, revenue is recorded as costs are incurred using the percentage of completion method of accounting. Losses on contracts in process are recognized when determined.
		Stock-based Compensation
		The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation under FASB ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires recognition over the vesting period in the income statement of the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees.
	Income Taxes
		Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future income tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
		The Company evaluates its tax positions in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10-25, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
		Income Per Share
		Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income, plus or minus adjustments to redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income, plus or minus adjustments to redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests, by all outstanding and potentially dilutive common shares during the period.
	New Accounting Standards
	In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The ASU requires that performance targets in these situations be accounted for as performance conditions and should not be reflected in the calculation of the grant-date fair value of the award. The ASU also specifies requirements for recognition of associated compensation cost. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-12 prospectively and does not expect the implementation to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.
	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. The ASU is effective for the Company for periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is not permitted. The ASU 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 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
	In April 2014 the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and required new disclosures about discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company has chosen to adopt ASU 2014-08 prospectively and does not expect the implementation to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

Acquisition_of_Subsidiaries

Acquisition of Subsidiaries	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisition of Subsidiaries	(2)      Acquisition of Subsidiaries
	Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
	On December 13, 2013, via a newly formed subsidiary Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC, the Company acquired 100% of the membership interests of Helicopter Consultants of Maui, LLC (doing business as Blue Hawaiian Helicopters) and certain of its affiliates (collectively, BHH) for a cash purchase price of $66.8 million, subject to final determination of working capital, as defined in the merger agreement, as of the closing date. As of December 31, 2013, the Company had recorded a liability of $2,282,000 for the estimated increase to the purchase price for the change in working capital. The liability was revised to $3,182,000 during the first quarter of 2014 and paid during the second quarter. No further amounts are due to the sellers. The former owners of BHH hold a 10% ownership interest in Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC, which the Company can redeem at any time for a price based on BHH’s current operating results. The purchase price was financed primarily through borrowings under our Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement with a commercial bank group.
	BHH provides helicopter tours on five of the Hawaiian Islands, and its acquisition expanded the Company’s tourism operations into a new market. The allocation of the purchase price was as follows (amounts in thousands):
		Allocation at			Adjustments			Revised
		31-Dec-13						Allocation
	Aircraft	$	33,440			--			33,440
	Intangible assets		24,525			--			24,525
	Goodwill		5,985			590			6,575
	Other equipment and leasehold improvements		5,183			--			5,183
	Working capital accounts, net		5,964			310			6,274
	Total net assets	$	75,097			900			75,997
	Redeemable non-controlling interest		(6,065	)		--			(6,065	)
	Purchase price	$	69,032			900			69,932
	The Company does not expect further adjustments to the purchase price allocation.
	Revenue of $2,766,000 and income of $478,000 before income taxes, interest expense on acquisition financing, and allocation of corporate office expenses generated by BHH’s operations from December 13 through December 31, 2013, have been included with those of the Company in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
	Sundance Helicopters, Inc.
	On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Sundance Helicopters, Inc. and all of the aircraft owned by two affiliated entities (collectively, Sundance) for a purchase price of approximately $46.3 million, subject to final determination of certain working capital adjustments, as defined in the agreement, as of the acquisition date. In addition, the purchase agreement also provided for an additional amount to be paid to the sellers if certain aircraft maintenance expense targets were achieved. In 2013, the Company revised its estimate of the increase to the purchase price for both of these adjustments to $843,000, compared to $906,000 estimated as of December 31, 2012. The liability was paid to the sellers during the fourth quarter of 2013, and no further amounts are due the sellers. The purchase price was financed primarily through borrowings under the Company’s Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement.
	Sundance is a helicopter tour operator, primarily focusing on Grand Canyon tours, but also provides helicopter services to support firefighting, news gathering, and other missions. The acquisition provided a platform for the Company to expand into adjacent aviation industries and opened the Tourism operating segment for the Company. No results of operations for Sundance were included in the Company’s consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2012, because the acquisition was effective following the close of business on December 31, 2012.
	The allocation of the purchase price was as follows (amounts in thousands):
		Allocation at			Adjustments			Revised
		31-Dec-12						Allocation
	Aircraft	$	34,420			--			34,420
	Amortizable intangible assets		5,735			(593	)		5,142
	Goodwill		3,509			665			4,174
	Other equipment		901			--			901
	Deferred tax asset		1,286			450			1,736
	Working capital accounts, net		1,379			(585	)		794
	Purchase price	$	47,230			(63	)		47,167
	The Company does not expect adjustments to the allocation of the purchase price in future periods.

Discontinued_Operations

Discontinued Operations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Discontinued Operations	(3)      Discontinued Operations
	In July 2013, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of American Jets, Inc., and all of the assets of an affiliated entity (collectively, AJI) for a purchase price of approximately $1.7 million. AJI provided long-range fixed wing medical transportation services based out of Florida. Because of operating losses generated in both 2014 and 2013, the Company made the decision during the fourth quarter of 2014 to discontinue all operations conducted by AJI, and all operations ceased in December 2014. Aircraft totaling $1.8 million used in AJI’s operations are included in assets held for sale in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2014. Goodwill of $1.5 million associated with AJI was written off during the fourth quarter of 2014. All other assets and liabilities associated with AJI are immaterial and will be retained by the Company.
	Results of operations for all periods have been reclassified to reflect discontinued operations presentation. Except where otherwise noted, all disclosures in footnotes to the consolidated financial statements represent the results of continuing operations. The results of discontinued operations included in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income were as follows (amounts in thousands):
		For years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Patient transport revenue, net	$	4,078			2,440
	Operating expenses:
	Depreciation and amortization		529			141
	Loss on disposition of assets		791			--
	Goodwill write-off		1,468			--
	Other operating expenses		7,634			3,158
	Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes		(6,344	)		(859	)
	Income tax benefit		2,436			327
	Loss from discontinued operations	$	(3,908	)		(532	)

Patient_Transport_Revenue_Reco

Patient Transport Revenue Recognition	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
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 and Medicaid patients. The allowance for uncompensated care is related primarily to receivables recorded for self-pay patients.
	The Company has not changed its discount policies related to self-pay patients or deductible and copayment balances for insured patients during 2014, 2013, or 2012. The allowance for uncompensated care was 38.9% of receivables from non-governmental payers as of December 31, 2014, compared to 39.2% at December 31, 2013.
		The allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care are as follows at December 31 (amounts in thousands):
			2014		2013
	Allowance for contractual discounts		$	193,954		183,106
	Allowance for uncompensated care			154,544		118,612
	Total		$	348,498		301,718
	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 to pay for the services provided and a provision for contractual discounts related to Medicare and Medicaid transports. 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 years ended December 31,
			2014		2013		2012
	Third-party payers		$	864,647		723,561		693,395
	Self-pay			275,677		245,424		217,544
	Total		$	1,140,324		968,985		910,939

Costs_in_Excess_of_Billings_an

Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs [Abstract]
Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs	(5)      Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company expects to complete medical interior and products contracts in process and collect all related accounts receivable within one year. The following summarizes contracts in process at December 31 (amounts in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	2,806			4,941
	Estimated contribution to earnings and indirect costs		836			2,454
			3,642			7,395
	Less billings to date		(4,391	)		(6,739	)
	Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings (billings in excess of costs), net	$	(749	)		656

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru

Fair Value of Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
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.
	Derivatives:
	The Company’s cost of operations is affected by changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel, which has historically fluctuated widely in price. Fuel costs represented approximately 4.6%, 4.1%, and 3.8% of the Company’s operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively. 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. With the use of purchased call options, the Company cannot be in a liability position at settlement. For 2014 the Company had fuel derivatives in place to cover the majority of its fuel consumption.
	The Company’s financial derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting, and, therefore, realized and non-cash mark to market adjustments are included in aircraft operations expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Premiums paid under all agreements are included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s balance sheet, and all cash flows associated with purchasing and selling derivatives are classified as operating cash flows in the Company’s statement of cash flows. The Company does not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.
	The Company’s financial derivative agreements protected against increases in the cost of Gulf Coast jet fuel above $3.50 per gallon for 2012; above $3.55 per gallon for 2013; and above $3.44 per gallon for 2014.
	All fuel derivative contracts are valued using Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy and had expired as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Aircraft operations expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, included non-cash mark to market derivative losses of $70,000, $143,000, and $257,000, respectively. There were no cash settlements under the agreements in 2014, 2013, or 2012.
	Long-term debt:
	The fair value of long-term debt is valued using Level 3 inputs 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 December 31, 2014, is estimated to be $510,353,000, compared to carrying value of $512,666,000. The fair value of long-term debt as of December 31, 2013, was estimated to be $513,436,000, compared to carrying value of $516,453,000.

Longterm_Debt

Long-term Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Long-term Debt	(7)      Long-term Debt
	Long-term debt consists of the following at December 31 (amounts in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Term loan with quarterly installments of principal and interest, with all remaining principal due in 2017. Interest rate at December 31, 2014, was 1.94%.	$	275,000			332,510
	Borrowings under revolving credit facility with interest due not less than quarterly and all principal due in 2017.		--			12,000
	Notes payable with interest rates from 2.31% to 6.57%, due in monthly installments of principal and interest with balloon payments due at various dates in 2015 through 2024, collateralized by aircraft		213,312			156,841
	Notes payable with variable interest rates due in monthly installments of principal and interest with all remaining principal due in 2015, collateralized by aircraft. Interest rate at December 31, 2014, was 4.00%.		916			1,276
	Note payable with interest rate at 4.92%, due in monthly installments of principal and interest with all remaining principal due in 2018, collateralized by real estate		4,130			4,425
	Notes payable with interest rates from 3.05% to 4.00%, due in monthly installments of principal and interest at various dates through 2024, collateralized by aircraft		17,150			6,861
	Note payable with interest at 4.04%, due in semi-annual installments of principal and interest through 2019, collateralized by aircraft		2,158			2,540
			512,666			516,453
	Less current installments		(45,827	)		(39,415	)
		$	466,839			477,038
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company’s senior credit facility consists of term loans with a balance of $275 million and no balance outstanding against the $100 million revolving credit facility. Remaining available capacity on the revolving credit facility is $95.9 million and is reduced by four outstanding letters of credit totaling $4.1 million.
	Borrowings under the credit facility are secured by substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, and general intangibles. Indebtedness under the credit facility has a first priority claim to the assets pledged to secure it. Quarterly principal payments began in 2013 as follows: 1.25% of total principal balance per quarter for quarters 1 – 8; 1.875% of total principal balance per quarter for quarters 9 – 16; and 2.5% of total principal balance per quarter for quarters 17 – 19. All remaining principal is due at the maturity date in December 2017 but can be prepaid at any time without penalty. In December 2014, the Company prepaid $40 million of the outstanding term loan balance. Base Rate Loans (as defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement) bear interest at the greater of (i) prime or (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.25% to 1.25%. The interest rate for LIBOR Rate Loans (as defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement) is generally the LIBOR rate plus 1.25% to 2.25%. As of December 31, 2014, the interest rate on the term loans was 1.94%.
	Subject to certain conditions, the Company may borrow an additional $40 million under the senior credit facility. These additional borrowings may be in the form of term or revolving loans. The maturity date and the interest rate on the additional borrowings would be the same as all other outstanding borrowings under the senior credit facility.
	Payment obligations under the credit facility accelerate upon the occurrence of defined events of default, including the following: failure to pay principal or interest or to perform covenants under the credit facility or other indebtedness with outstanding obligations exceeding $3 million; events of insolvency or bankruptcy; failure to timely discharge judgments of $750,000 or more; failure to maintain the first priority status of liens under the credit facility; suspension of material governmental permits; a material adverse effect with respect to the Company; and a change of control in the Company.
	The credit facility contains various covenants that limit, among other things, the Company’s ability to create liens, declare future dividends, make loans and investments, make any material change to the nature of its business, enter into any transaction with affiliates other than on arms’ length terms, enter into a merger or consolidation, or sell assets. The Company is required to maintain certain financial ratios as defined in the credit facility and other notes.
	Aggregate maturities of long-term debt are as follows (amounts in thousands):
	Year ending December 31:
	2015	$	45,827
	2016		44,631
	2017		247,506
	2018		24,978
	2019		15,876
	Thereafter		133,848
		$	512,666

Leases

Leases	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leases [Abstract]
Leases	(8)      Leases
	The Company leases hangar and office space and certain equipment under noncancelable operating leases and leases certain aircraft and information systems hardware under noncancelable capital and operating leases. The majority of aircraft leases contain purchase options, either at the end of the lease term or at a stipulated early buyout date. The Company measures capital lease assets and the related obligations initially at an amount equal to the present value at the beginning of the lease term of minimum lease payments during the lease term, excluding executory costs. The Company has made an accounting policy election to exclude the maximum consideration it could be required to pay the lessor in the event of default from the calculation of the present value of the minimum lease payments in measuring the capital lease asset and related obligation, since there is no likely scenario whereby an aircraft lessor would require the Company to pay the full stipulated loss value in the event of a non-performance-related default, and, therefore, this maximum consideration has a remote probability of payment.
	As of December 31, 2014, future minimum lease payments under capital and operating leases are as follows (amounts in thousands):
		Capital			Operating
		leases			leases
	Year ending December 31:
	2015	$	27,868			5,592
	2016		26,478			4,054
	2017		22,812			2,963
	2018		17,072			1,915
	2019		12,901			1,449
	Thereafter		25,641			23,620
	Total minimum lease payments		132,772		$	39,593
	Less amounts representing interest		(12,284	)
	Present value of minimum capital lease payments		120,488
	Less current installments		(23,954	)
		$	96,534
	Rent expense relating to operating leases totaled $13,968,000, $14,122,000, and $13,732,000, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.
	The Company receives certain allowances for the completion of medical interiors for its leased aircraft. Gains associated with these completion allowances are deferred and amortized over the terms of the leases and are included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, unamortized completion allowances included in other liabilities totaled $8,648,000 and $11,140,000, respectively.
	At December 31, 2014 and 2013, leased property held under capital leases included in equipment, net of accumulated amortization, totaled approximately $109,376,000 and $145,620,000, respectively. Amortization of leased property held under capital leases is included in depreciation expense.

Stockholders_Equity

Stockholders' Equity	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity	(9)      Stockholders’ Equity
	Stock Split
	On December 3, 2012, the Company’s stockholders approved a three-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock to be accomplished by means of a stock distribution. The additional shares were distributed on December 28, 2012, to stockholders of record as of December 14, 2012. The stockholders also approved an increase from 23,500,000 to 70,500,000 in the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock and an increase from 5,000,000 to 15,000,000 in the number of authorized shares of the Company’s preferred stock. Historical outstanding shares, stock options, and restricted shares were recast upon the distribution of additional shares.
	Income per Share
	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 $1,828,000 and decreased by $1,976,000 for adjustments to the value of redeemable non-controlling interests in determining the numerator used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	The reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows for the years ended December 31:
		2014		2013		2012
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		39,163,080		38,923,206		38,594,286
	Dilutive effect of:
	Common stock options		107,125		217,082		398,452
	Unvested restricted stock		78,086		70,104		51,730
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		39,348,291		39,210,392		39,044,468
	Common stock options totaling 343,730 and 55,000 were not included in the diluted income per share calculation for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.
	Cash Dividend
	On December 10, 2012, the Company’s board of directors declared a special cash dividend of $7.00 per share (on a pre-split basis) on the Company’s common stock. The dividend of $91,629,000 was paid on December 28, 2012, to stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 20, 2012, and was funded with available cash and additional borrowings under the Company’s senior credit facility. Covenants under the senior credit facility limit the Company’s ability to declare future dividends. In 2014 and 2013, dividends of $8,000 and $34,000, respectively, were forfeited when the underlying restricted shares were also forfeited.

Stockbased_Compensation

Stock-based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stock-based Compensation [Abstract]
Stock-based Compensation	(10)    Stock-based Compensation
	The Company’s 2006 Equity Compensation Plan (2006 Plan) provides for the granting of incentive stock options, non-statutory stock options (NSO’s), shares of restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and supplemental bonuses consisting of shares of common stock, cash or a combination thereof to employees, directors, and consultants. On December 3, 2012, the Company’s stockholders approved an increase in the number of shares of common stock available under the plan from 3,000,000 to 5,400,000. The 2006 Plan is administered by a committee of the Company’s board of directors which has discretion to set the exercise price and term of any option granted, provided that the term may not exceed ten years. Shares of restricted stock granted under the 2006 Plan are valued at the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and have typically vested over a one- to five-year period. All share and per share amounts in this footnote have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the three-for-one stock split described in note 9.
	The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company uses historical option exercise data for similar employee groups, as well as the vesting period and contractual term, to estimate the expected term of options granted; the expected term represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. Expected volatility is based on historical volatility of the Company’s stock. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of the grant. During the year ended December 31, 2014, options to purchase 343,730 shares of stock, with a weighted average exercise price of $47.43, were granted at a weighted average fair value of $12.85. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, was $11.54 and $9.13, respectively. The following weighted average assumptions were used in valuing the grants for the years ended December 31:
		2014			2013			2012
	Expected term (in years)		3.3			3.1			3
	Expected volatility		36	%		39	%		46	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.1	%		0.5	%		0.3	%
	Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%		0	%
	The following is a summary of option activity under all stock option plans during the year ended December 31, 2014:
		Shares			Weighted			Weighted-			Aggregate
					Average			Average			Intrinsic
					Exercise Price			Remaining			Value
								Contractual			(amounts in
								Life (Years)			thousands)
	Outstanding at January 1, 2014		264,187		$	19.9
	Granted		343,730			47.43
	Exercised		(112,847	)		12.65
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		495,070			40.67			3.8		$	3,301
	Exercisable at December 31, 2014		151,340			25.31			1.7			2,836
	The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, was $4,456,000, $8,300,000, and $9,614,000, respectively.
	In August 2014, the Company granted performance share units (PSU’s) which entitle the grantees to receive shares of common stock for each PSU which is earned over a three-year measurement period based on the Company’s total shareholder return compared to total shareholder returns for a specified peer group of companies. The maximum number of PSU’s which can be earned under the grant is 105,512. Based on a Monte Carlo simulation, the Company has estimated that 63,938 PSU’s valued at $4,195,000 will vest at the end of the measurement period and is recognizing stock compensation expense based on this valuation.
	The following is a summary of restricted stock activity during the year ended December 31, 2014:
					Weighted
					Average
		Shares			Grant-Date Fair
					Value
	Non-vested at January 1, 2014		236,950		$	37.24
	Granted		48,000			52.26
	Vested		(51,650	)		24.21
	Forfeited		(9,500	)		42.86
	Non-vested at December 31, 2014		223,800			43.69
	The total fair value of shares vested during 2014, 2013, and 2012, was $2,965,000, $2,868,000, and $2,644,000, respectively.
	During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recognized $4,134,000, $3,560,000, and $2,044,000, respectively, in stock-based compensation expense. No income tax benefit was recognized related to stock compensation expense recorded for Incentive Stock Options. Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based awards as of December 31, 2014, was $12,827,000 and is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting term of 1.9 years.

Air_Medical_Services_Contract_

Air Medical Services Contract Revenue	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Air Medical Services Contract Revenue [Abstract]
Air Medical Services Contract Revenue	(11)    Air Medical Services Contract Revenue
	The Company has operating agreements with various hospitals and other institutions to provide services and aircraft for initial terms ranging from one to five years. The agreements typically provide for revenue from monthly fixed fees and flight fees based upon the utilization of aircraft in providing emergency medical services. The fixed-fee portions of the agreements effective as of December 31, 2014, provide for the following revenue for years ending December 31 (amounts in thousands):
	2015	$	99,027
	2016		55,029
	2017		35,399
	2018		21,452
	2019		10,445
	Thereafter		2,962
		$	224,314

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Income Taxes	(12)    Income Taxes
	Income tax expense consists of the following for the years ended December 31 (amounts in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Current income tax expense:
	Federal	$	(14,432	)		(9,915	)		(37,323	)
	State		(3,977	)		(2,902	)		(7,211	)
	Foreign		--			--			--
			(18,409	)		(12,817	)		(44,534	)
	Deferred income tax expense:
	Federal		(38,735	)		(23,126	)		(12,956	)
	State		(6,316	)		(3,809	)		(2,302	)
	Foreign		--			--			--
			(45,051	)		(26,935	)		(15,258	)
	Total income tax expense	$	(63,460	)		(39,752	)		(59,792	)
	The Company’s effective tax rate is affected by the apportionment of revenue and income before taxes to the various jurisdictions in which it operates and by changing tax laws and regulations in those jurisdictions.
	Reconciliation of income taxes on income from continuing operations before income taxes computed at the federal statutory rate of 35% for the years ended December 31 to income taxes as recorded is as follows (amounts in thousands):
		2014			2013			2012
	Tax at the federal statutory rate	$	(56,993	)		(35,823	)		(53,530	)
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit, including adjustments based on filed state income tax returns		(5,777	)		(3,716	)		(5,812	)
	Nontaxable (nondeductible) items		(601	)		(937	)		2
	Adjustment to filed returns		(195	)		(18	)		(45	)
	Foreign income tax at different rate than U.S.		(94	)		(32	)		--
	Change in valuation allowance		(125	)		(42	)		--
	Non-taxable earnings of non-controlling interests		209			95			--
	Tax credits		234			254			174
	Changes in estimated state tax rates		--			660			(667	)
	Other		(118	)		(193	)		86
	Net income tax expense	$	(63,460	)		(39,752	)		(59,792	)
	For state income tax purposes, at December 31, 2014, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $21.6 million, expiring at various dates through 2033. In addition, as of December 31, 2014, the Company has approximately $57.3 million of net operating loss carryforwards for state income tax purposes relating to pre-acquisition periods of certain subsidiaries. Utilization of all of subsidiaries’ pre-acquisition net operating loss carryforwards, which expire at various dates through 2028 for state income tax purposes, is subject to an annual limitation under the provisions of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
	For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, the Company recognized excess tax benefits related to stock option plans in the amount of $1,951,000, $3,015,000, and $3,447,000, respectively. Such benefits were recorded as a reduction of income taxes payable and an increase in additional paid-in capital.
	The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 are as follows (amounts in thousands):
		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	3,435			6,517
	Accruals and other, principally due to differences in employee compensation and benefits		10,858			9,429
	Other liabilities, principally due to differences in revenue recognition		10,130			10,193
	Total deferred tax assets, gross		24,423			26,139
	Valuation allowances		(167	)		(42	)
	Total deferred tax assets, net		24,256			26,097
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Equipment and leasehold improvements, principally due to differences in bases and depreciation methods		(107,975	)		(79,974	)
	Intangible assets, principally due to differences in bases and amortization methods		(27,519	)		(22,939	)
	Allowance for uncollectible accounts		(27,582	)		(18,429	)
	Goodwill		(4,622	)		(3,577	)
	Other		(700	)		(1,057	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities		(168,398	)		(125,976	)
	Net deferred tax liability	$	(144,142	)		(99,879	)
	The Company assesses the likelihood by jurisdiction that its net deferred tax assets will be recovered.  Based on the weight of all available evidence, both positive and negative, the Company records a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a future benefit will not be realized. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the deferred tax valuation allowance was $167,000 and $42,000, respectively, and related to tax losses in foreign jurisdictions.
	At December 31, 2014, the Company had no gross unrecognized tax benefits. It is the Company’s practice to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. The Company does not believe that it is reasonably possible that its estimates of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly in the next twelve months.
	In 2012 the Company recorded a liability of $1.6 million for uncertain tax positions, including estimated penalties and interest, related to acquisitions. Since the Company has been fully indemnified against the tax liability, including penalties and interest, a corresponding asset of $1.6 million was also recorded in 2012. There were no changes to the liability or the asset in 2014 or 2013.
	The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions and are open to federal and state tax audits until the applicable statutes of limitations expire. The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal tax examinations by tax authorities for tax years before 2011. The Company is currently not under examination by any federal or state taxing authority.

Employee_Benefit_Plans

Employee Benefit Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee Benefit Plans	(13)    Employee Benefit Plans
	The Company has a defined contribution retirement plan whereby eligible employees may contribute up to 60% of their gross pay subject to the IRS maximum ($17,500 for 2014). Employees age 50 or older may make additional contributions up to the IRS maximum ($23,000 for 2014). Under the plan, the Company’s current discretionary match is equal to 70% of eligible contributions made by each participant during the year, up to the first 8% of the participant’s current gross eligible earnings. Company contributions totaled approximately $9,418,000, $10,786,000, and $9,372,000, for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

Commitments_Contingencies_and_

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations [Abstract]
Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations	(14)    Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations
	Commitments
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had open purchase commitments totaling $171.6 million for 48 aircraft scheduled to be delivered from 2015 through 2017. Typically the Company has financed aircraft acquired under similar commitments through capital lease or debt agreements. If financing arrangements cannot be arranged or the Company is prevented from taking or declines to take delivery of the aircraft under the commitments described above for any other reason, the Company may forfeit nonrefundable deposits of approximately $13.8 million. The amount of deposit to be forfeited may be mitigated if the aircraft manufacturer is able to remarket the commitment positions. As of December 31, 2014, the Company has received financing commitments, subject to routine credit approval and aircraft inspection processes, to cover the cost of all aircraft scheduled to be delivered in 2015. The Company intends to use the new aircraft for expansion opportunities as well as to replace older models of aircraft in the fleet. The Company plans to either sell the aircraft which are replaced, use them for spare parts, or redeploy them into the backup fleet.
	As of December 31, 2014, the Company had four letters of credit totaling $4,125,000 in lieu of cash deposits on workers compensation insurance policies and other obligations. All letters of credit may be renewed annually and reduce the available borrowing capacity under the Company’s revolving credit facility.
	Contingencies
	On January 30, 2013, the Company was served with a purported class action lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Alameda County, California, alleging failure to pay certain compensation and benefits to employees in that jurisdiction. The Company continues to evaluate the merits of the lawsuit and is vigorously defending against this suit.  The Company has recorded a liability based on its assessment of potential outcomes. Adjustments to this liability, which may or may not be material, may be required as the case progresses.
	The Company is involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or liquidity.
	Concentrations
	As of December 31, 2014, Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) aircraft comprise 80% of the Company’s helicopter fleet while aircraft made by Bell Helicopter, Inc. (Bell) constitute 16%. The Company obtains a substantial portion of its helicopter spare parts and components from Airbus and Bell and maintains supply arrangements with other parties for engine and related dynamic components.
	The Company’s air medical services pilots, comprising 26% of the total workforce, are represented by a collective bargaining unit. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the Company and the pilots’ union is effective through December 2016.
	Payer mix related to the Company’s patient transport revenue, based on number of transports, was as follows for the years ended December 31:
		2014			2013
	Private insurance carriers		28	%		28	%
	Government-sponsored insurance plans		4	%		5	%
	Medicare		33	%		33	%
	Medicaid		23	%		21	%
	Self-pay patients		12	%		13	%

Business_Segment_Information

Business Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Segment Information [Abstract]
Business Segment Information	(15)    Business Segment Information
	The Company identifies operating segments based on management responsibility and the type of services or products offered. Effective September 1, 2012, the Company combined two of its operating segments,  Community-Based Services (CBS) and Hospital-Based Services (HBS), into a single operating segment reporting to the President of Air Medical Services. The decision to combine CBS and HBS delivery models for air medical transportation services was made in order to improve efficiency and communication between regional management. In addition, with increasing conversion of HBS contracts into CBS operations and the development of alternative delivery models in partnering with hospitals to provide air medical transportation services, the lines between the two delivery models have become less distinct. CBS and HBS segment results for prior periods have been combined in the following table to reflect the new segment definition. In the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company discontinued its long-range fixed wing operations, which were included in its Air Medical Services segment. See Note 3 for further discussion. Operating segments and their principal services or products 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. Segment originated with the acquisition of Sundance on December 31, 2012, as described more fully in Note 2.
		●	United Rotorcraft (UR) Division - designs, manufactures, and installs aircraft medical interiors and other aerospace and medical transport products for domestic and international customers.
	The accounting policies of the operating segments are as described in Note 1. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on pretax income. Intersegment sales are reflected at market prices.
	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 and results of insignificant operations. As required by ASC 350, the Company has allocated goodwill among its segments as follows: $116,025,000 to the Air Medical Services Division, $495,000 to the United Rotorcraft Division, and $10,749,000 to the Tourism Division. The Company does not allocate total assets between operating segments for internal reporting and performance evaluation purposes.
			AMS			Tourism			UR			Corporate			Intersegment			Consolidated
												Activities			Eliminations
	2014
	External revenue		$	863,867			116,036			24,784			86			--			1,004,773
	Intersegment revenue			--			--			11,409			--			(11,409	)		--
	Total revenue			863,867			116,036			36,193			86			(11,409	)		1,004,773
	Operating expenses			(579,196	)		(96,131	)		(35,312	)		(40,029	)		9,940			(740,728	)
	Depreciation & amortization			(69,432	)		(6,740	)		(2,333	)		(2,062	)		--			(80,567	)
	Interest expense			(16,186	)		(2,812	)		--			(2,753	)		1			(21,750	)
	Other, net			1,646			5			--			(540	)		(1	)		1,110
	Income tax expense			--			--			--			(63,460	)		--			(63,460	)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations			200,699			10,358			(1,452	)		(108,758	)		(1,469	)		99,378
	Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax			(3,908	)		--			--			--			--			(3,908	)
	Net income (loss)			196,791			10,358			(1,452	)		(108,758	)		(1,469	)		95,470
	Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests			(168	)		767			--			--			--			599
	Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		$	196,959			9,591			(1,452	)		(108,758	)		(1,469	)		94,871
			AMS			Tourism			UR			Corporate			Intersegment			Consolidated
												Activities			Eliminations
	2013
	External revenue		$	798,271			56,599			24,195			96			--			879,161
	Intersegment revenue			--			--			9,588			--			(9,588	)		--
	Total revenue			798,271			56,599			33,783			96			(9,588	)		879,161
	Operating expenses			(573,617	)		(46,226	)		(32,654	)		(34,262	)		8,652			(678,107	)
	Depreciation & amortization			(73,039	)		(2,960	)		(1,803	)		(1,712	)		--			(79,514	)
	Interest expense			(16,670	)		(1,044	)		--			(2,609	)		--			(20,323	)
	Other, net			1,209			--			(2	)		(71	)		--			1,136
	Income tax expense			--			--			--			(39,752	)		--			(39,752	)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations			136,154			6,369			(676	)		(78,310	)		(936	)		62,601
	Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax			(532	)		--			--			--			--			(532	)
	Net income (loss)			135,622			6,369			(676	)		(78,310	)		(936	)		62,069
	Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests			(318	)		48			--			--			--			(270	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		$	135,940			6,321			(676	)		(78,310	)		(936	)		62,339
	2012
	External revenue		$	822,023			--			28,365			424			--			850,812
	Intersegment revenue			--			--			20,971			--			(20,971	)		--
	Total revenue			822,023			--			49,336			424			(20,971	)		850,812
	Operating expenses			(543,410	)		--			(38,272	)		(32,462	)		16,188			(597,956	)
	Depreciation & amortization			(79,683	)		--			(1,385	)		(1,456	)		--			(82,524	)
	Interest expense			(20,138	)		--			(1	)		(512	)		--			(20,651	)
	Other, net			3,122			--			--			141			--			3,263
	Income tax expense			--			--			--			(59,792	)		--			(59,792	)
	Net income (loss)		$	181,914			--			9,678			(93,657	)		(4,783	)		93,152

Unaudited_Quarterly_Financial_

Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data	(16)    Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data
	Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data for 2014 and 2013 is as follows (amounts in thousands except per share data):
		Quarter
		First			Second			Third			Fourth
	2014
	Revenue	$	221,069			257,637			276,917			249,150
	Operating income		24,776			54,211			61,282			43,209
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes		19,222			48,934			56,262			38,420
	Income from continuing operations		11,577			29,802			34,371			23,628
	Net income		11,052			28,924			33,840			21,654
	Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		10,889			28,790			33,717			21,475
	Basic income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		0.29			0.75			0.92			0.6
	Discontinued operations		(.01	)		(.02	)		(.01	)		(.05	)
	Diluted income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		0.29			0.75			0.91			0.59
	Discontinued operations		(.01	)		(.02	)		(.01	)		(.05	)
	2013
	Revenue	$	179,229			226,205			251,353			222,374
	Operating income (loss)		(4,858	)		36,432			62,746			27,220
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(9,373	)		31,583			57,905			22,238
	Income (loss) from continuing operations		(5,689	)		19,149			35,749			13,392
	Net income (loss)		(5,689	)		19,149			35,605			13,004
	Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		(5,689	)		19,149			35,605			13,274
	Basic income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		(.15	)		0.49			0.91			0.3
	Discontinued operations		--			--			--			(.01	)
	Diluted income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		(.15	)		0.49			0.91			0.29
	Discontinued operations		--			--			--			(.01	)
	Income per common share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of the quarterly income per share does not necessarily equal the total computed for the year.

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts	Schedule II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
	(Amounts in thousands)
			Balance at							Balance at End of Period
			Beginning of		Additions (a)		Deductions (b)
	Description		Period
	Allowance for contractual discounts
	Year ended December 31, 2014		$	183,106		1,221,662		(1,210,814	)		193,954
	Year ended December 31, 2013			134,257		887,735		(838,886	)		183,106
	Year ended December 31, 2012			101,016		744,212		(710,971	)		134,257
	Allowance for uncompensated care
	Year ended December 31, 2014		$	118,612		464,145		(428,213	)		154,544
	Year ended December 31, 2013			121,623		383,636		(386,647	)		118,612
	Year ended December 31, 2012			92,995		320,221		(291,593	)		121,623
	Notes:
	(a)	Amounts excluded from revenue.
	(b)	Actual write-offs and charges to allowances.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Cash and Cash Equivalents		Cash and Cash Equivalents
		For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company had no cash equivalent instruments as of December 31, 2014 and 2013.
Trade Receivables, net		Trade Receivables, net
		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 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. Billings in excess of actual payment are charged off against the contractual allowance when payment is received. The allowance for contractual discounts is related primarily to Medicare and Medicaid patients. The allowance for uncompensated care is related primarily to receivables recorded for self-pay patients.
Inventories		Inventories
		Inventories are comprised primarily of expendable aircraft parts and manufactured parts for medical aircraft interiors and are recorded at the lower of cost (average cost) or market.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment
		Hangars, equipment, and leasehold improvements are recorded at cost. All maintenance and repairs, including scheduled aircraft component overhauls and replacements, are expensed when incurred. Major modifications and costs incurred to place aircraft in service are capitalized. Improvements to leased helicopters and airplanes are included in flight and ground support equipment in the accompanying financial statements. Leasehold improvements to hangar and office space are included in buildings and office equipment in the accompanying financial statements. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the useful lives of the equipment or the lease term, as follows:
				Estimated
	Description		Lives	Residual value
	Buildings, including hangars		40 years	10	%
	Helicopters, including medical equipment		8 – 25 years	25-Oct	%
	Ground support equipment and rotables		5 – 10 years	0 - 10	%
	Furniture and office equipment		3 – 10 years	0	%
Intangible Assets		Intangible Assets
		The Company recognized intangible assets related to trade names, customer lists, and other customer or contractual relationships as a result of its acquisitions. Useful lives are determined based on the estimated period of economic benefit, measured by the present value of associated cash flows, derived from each of these assets and range from five to sixteen years. Amortization expense, computed using the straight-line method, is estimated as follows: $4,600,000 in 2015, $4,337,000 in 2016, and $4,287,000 in each of 2017, 2018, and 2019. Intangible assets totaling $24.5 million have indefinite lives.
		The Company capitalizes incremental direct costs related to the application for multiple Supplemental Type Certificates (STC’s). STC’s are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and represent the FAA’s approval and certification of the airworthiness of an aircraft modification, such as a medical interior. A multiple STC allows the modification to be made to more than one aircraft without additional certification. STC costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful economic life of the STC, typically five years.
Goodwill
		Goodwill
		The Company accounts for goodwill under FASB ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Under ASC 350, goodwill and certain identifiable intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are reviewed for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of the statement. The Company did not recognize any losses related to impairment of goodwill in 2014, 2013, and 2012. See Note 3 for discussion of goodwill written off related to discontinued operations.
Derivative Instruments		Derivative Instruments
	The Company accounts for derivative financial instruments under FASB ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. ASC 815 requires the Company to measure all derivatives at fair value and to recognize them in the balance sheet as an asset or liability. Changes in fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments are recognized in earnings in the current period. The Company’s derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments. Changes in the fair value of the fuel derivative instruments are reflected in fuel expense, included in aircraft operations expense, in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.
Redeemable Non-controlling Interests	Redeemable Non-controlling Interests
	In accordance with FASB ASC 480-10-S99, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, the Company adjusts the carrying amounts of redeemable non-controlling interests to current redemption amounts at the end of each reporting period. Adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interests that affect the numerator of earnings per share calculations are accounted for as increases or decreases to retained earnings.
Long-lived Assets		Long-lived Assets
		The Company periodically reviews long-lived assets, including amortizable intangible assets, 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. No impairment related to long-lived assets has been recognized in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
		Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less estimated selling costs. As of December 31, 2014, assets held for sale consisted primarily of eleven aircraft, which the Company intends to sell within one year. Periodically the Company identifies aircraft to be sold or used for spare parts as part of its long-term plan to phase out certain older models of aircraft and replace them with newer models.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition
		Fixed fee revenue under the Company’s operating agreements with hospitals and other institutions is recognized monthly over the terms of the agreements.
		Revenue relating to emergency and tourism flights is recognized upon completion of the services. Revenue relating to emergency flights is recorded net of provisions for contractual discounts and estimated uncompensated care. The Company has 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 the Medicare and Medicaid programs are very complex and subject to interpretation. The Company also provides services to patients who have no insurance or other third-party payer coverage. As a result, there is a reasonable possibility that recorded estimates will change materially in the short-term. Retroactive adjustments may change the amounts realized from third-party payers.
	The Company has contracts to manufacture and install medical equipment and modify aircraft for third parties. When the total cost to complete a project can be reasonably estimated, revenue is recorded as costs are incurred using the percentage of completion method of accounting. Losses on contracts in process are recognized when determined.
Stock-based Compensation		Stock-based Compensation
		The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation under FASB ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires recognition over the vesting period in the income statement of the grant-date fair value of stock options and other equity-based compensation issued to employees.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes
		Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for future income tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred income tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
		The Company evaluates its tax positions in accordance with FASB ASC 740-10-25, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return.
Income Per Share		Income Per Share
		Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income, plus or minus adjustments to redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income, plus or minus adjustments to redemption value of redeemable non-controlling interests, by all outstanding and potentially dilutive common shares during the period.
New Accounting Standards
	New Accounting Standards
	In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-12, Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could Be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period. The ASU requires that performance targets in these situations be accounted for as performance conditions and should not be reflected in the calculation of the grant-date fair value of the award. The ASU also specifies requirements for recognition of associated compensation cost. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company expects to adopt ASU 2014-12 prospectively and does not expect the implementation to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.
	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. The ASU is effective for the Company for periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is not permitted. The ASU 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 2014-09 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
	In April 2014 the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity, which changed the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and required new disclosures about discontinued operations and disposals of components of an entity that do not qualify for discontinued operations reporting. The ASU is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2014, with earlier adoption permitted. The Company has chosen to adopt ASU 2014-08 prospectively and does not expect the implementation to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Schedule of estimated useful lives and salvage values of equipment			Estimated
	Description	Lives	Residual value
	Buildings, including hangars	40 years	10	%
	Helicopters, including medical equipment	8 – 25 years	25-Oct	%
	Ground support equipment and rotables	5 – 10 years	0 - 10	%
	Furniture and office equipment	3 – 10 years	0	%

Acquisition_of_Subsidiaries_Ta

Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of purchase price allocation
		Allocation at			Adjustments			Revised
		31-Dec-13						Allocation
	Aircraft	$	33,440			--			33,440
	Intangible assets		24,525			--			24,525
	Goodwill		5,985			590			6,575
	Other equipment and leasehold improvements		5,183			--			5,183
	Working capital accounts, net		5,964			310			6,274
	Total net assets	$	75,097			900			75,997
	Redeemable non-controlling interest		(6,065	)		--			(6,065	)
	Purchase price	$	69,032			900			69,932
Sundance Helicopters, Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Schedule of purchase price allocation
		Allocation at			Adjustments			Revised
		31-Dec-12						Allocation
	Aircraft	$	34,420			--			34,420
	Amortizable intangible assets		5,735			(593	)		5,142
	Goodwill		3,509			665			4,174
	Other equipment		901			--			901
	Deferred tax asset		1,286			450			1,736
	Working capital accounts, net		1,379			(585	)		794
	Purchase price	$	47,230			(63	)		47,167

Discontinued_Operations_Tables

Discontinued Operations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Schedule of discontinued operations included in consolidated statements of comprehensive income
		For years ended December 31,
		2014			2013
	Patient transport revenue, net	$	4,078			2,440
	Operating expenses:
	Depreciation and amortization		529			141
	Loss on disposition of assets		791			--
	Goodwill write-off		1,468			--
	Other operating expenses		7,634			3,158
	Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes		(6,344	)		(859	)
	Income tax benefit		2,436			327
	Loss from discontinued operations	$	(3,908	)		(532	)

Patient_Transport_Revenue_Reco1

Patient Transport Revenue Recognition (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Patient Transport Revenue Recognition [Abstract]
Schedule of allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care
	The allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care are as follows at December 31 (amounts in thousands):
		2014		2013
	Allowance for contractual discounts	$	193,954		183,106
	Allowance for uncompensated care		154,544		118,612
	Total	$	348,498		301,718
Schedule of flight revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts but before the provision for uncompensated care, by major payer class		For years ended December 31,
		2014		2013		2012
	Third-party payers	$	864,647		723,561		693,395
	Self-pay		275,677		245,424		217,544
	Total	$	1,140,324		968,985		910,939

Costs_in_Excess_of_Billings_an1

Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs [Abstract]
Schedule of summary of contracts in process		2014			2013
	Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$	2,806			4,941
	Estimated contribution to earnings and indirect costs		836			2,454
			3,642			7,395
	Less billings to date		(4,391	)		(6,739	)
	Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings (billings in excess of costs), net	$	(749	)		656

Longterm_Debt_Tables

Long-term Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Schedule of long-term debt		2014			2013
	Term loan with quarterly installments of principal and interest, with all remaining principal due in 2017. Interest rate at December 31, 2014, was 1.94%.	$	275,000			332,510
	Borrowings under revolving credit facility with interest due not less than quarterly and all principal due in 2017.		--			12,000
	Notes payable with interest rates from 2.31% to 6.57%, due in monthly installments of principal and interest with balloon payments due at various dates in 2015 through 2024, collateralized by aircraft		213,312			156,841
	Notes payable with variable interest rates due in monthly installments of principal and interest with all remaining principal due in 2015, collateralized by aircraft. Interest rate at December 31, 2014, was 4.00%.		916			1,276
	Note payable with interest rate at 4.92%, due in monthly installments of principal and interest with all remaining principal due in 2018, collateralized by real estate		4,130			4,425
	Notes payable with interest rates from 3.05% to 4.00%, due in monthly installments of principal and interest at various dates through 2024, collateralized by aircraft		17,150			6,861
	Note payable with interest at 4.04%, due in semi-annual installments of principal and interest through 2019, collateralized by aircraft		2,158			2,540
			512,666			516,453
	Less current installments		(45,827	)		(39,415	)
		$	466,839			477,038
Schedule of aggregate maturities of long-term debt	Year ending December 31:
	2015	$	45,827
	2016		44,631
	2017		247,506
	2018		24,978
	2019		15,876
	Thereafter		133,848
		$	512,666

Leases_Tables

Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Leases [Abstract]
Schedule of future minimum lease payments under capital and operating leases		Capital			Operating
		leases			leases
	Year ending December 31:
	2015	$	27,868			5,592
	2016		26,478			4,054
	2017		22,812			2,963
	2018		17,072			1,915
	2019		12,901			1,449
	Thereafter		25,641			23,620
	Total minimum lease payments		132,772		$	39,593
	Less amounts representing interest		(12,284	)
	Present value of minimum capital lease payments		120,488
	Less current installments		(23,954	)
		$	96,534

Stockholders_Equity_Tables

Stockholders' Equity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding		2014		2013		2012
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic		39,163,080		38,923,206		38,594,286
	Dilutive effect of:
	Common stock options		107,125		217,082		398,452
	Unvested restricted stock		78,086		70,104		51,730
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted		39,348,291		39,210,392		39,044,468

Stockbased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Stock-based Compensation [Abstract]
Schedule of weighted average assumptions		2014			2013			2012
	Expected term (in years)		3.3			3.1			3
	Expected volatility		36	%		39	%		46	%
	Risk-free interest rate		1.1	%		0.5	%		0.3	%
	Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%		0	%
Schedule of summary of option activity		Shares			Weighted			Weighted-			Aggregate
					Average			Average			Intrinsic
					Exercise Price			Remaining			Value
								Contractual			(amounts in
								Life (Years)			thousands)
	Outstanding at January 1, 2014		264,187		$	19.9
	Granted		343,730			47.43
	Exercised		(112,847	)		12.65
	Outstanding at December 31, 2014		495,070			40.67			3.8		$	3,301
	Exercisable at December 31, 2014		151,340			25.31			1.7			2,836
Schedule of summary of restricted stock activity					Weighted
					Average
		Shares			Grant-Date Fair
					Value
	Non-vested at January 1, 2014		236,950		$	37.24
	Granted		48,000			52.26
	Vested		(51,650	)		24.21
	Forfeited		(9,500	)		42.86
	Non-vested at December 31, 2014		223,800			43.69

Air_Medical_Services_Contract_1

Air Medical Services Contract Revenue (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Air Medical Services Contract Revenue [Abstract]
Schedule of future revenue from fixed-fee portion of operating agreements	2015	$	99,027
	2016		55,029
	2017		35,399
	2018		21,452
	2019		10,445
	Thereafter		2,962
		$	224,314

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Income Taxes [Abstract]
Schedule of income tax expense		2014			2013			2012
	Current income tax expense:
	Federal	$	(14,432	)		(9,915	)		(37,323	)
	State		(3,977	)		(2,902	)		(7,211	)
	Foreign		--			--			--
			(18,409	)		(12,817	)		(44,534	)
	Deferred income tax expense:
	Federal		(38,735	)		(23,126	)		(12,956	)
	State		(6,316	)		(3,809	)		(2,302	)
	Foreign		--			--			--
			(45,051	)		(26,935	)		(15,258	)
	Total income tax expense	$	(63,460	)		(39,752	)		(59,792	)
Schedule of reconciliation of income taxes		2014			2013			2012
	Tax at the federal statutory rate	$	(56,993	)		(35,823	)		(53,530	)
	State income taxes, net of federal benefit, including adjustments based on filed state income tax returns		(5,777	)		(3,716	)		(5,812	)
	Nontaxable (nondeductible) items		(601	)		(937	)		2
	Adjustment to filed returns		(195	)		(18	)		(45	)
	Foreign income tax at different rate than U.S.		(94	)		(32	)		--
	Change in valuation allowance		(125	)		(42	)		--
	Non-taxable earnings of non-controlling interests		209			95			--
	Tax credits		234			254			174
	Changes in estimated state tax rates		--			660			(667	)
	Other		(118	)		(193	)		86
	Net income tax expense	$	(63,460	)		(39,752	)		(59,792	)
Schedule of deferred tax assets and liabilities		2014			2013
	Deferred tax assets:
	Net operating loss carryforwards	$	3,435			6,517
	Accruals and other, principally due to differences in employee compensation and benefits		10,858			9,429
	Other liabilities, principally due to differences in revenue recognition		10,130			10,193
	Total deferred tax assets, gross		24,423			26,139
	Valuation allowances		(167	)		(42	)
	Total deferred tax assets, net		24,256			26,097
	Deferred tax liabilities:
	Equipment and leasehold improvements, principally due to differences in bases and depreciation methods		(107,975	)		(79,974	)
	Intangible assets, principally due to differences in bases and amortization methods		(27,519	)		(22,939	)
	Allowance for uncollectible accounts		(27,582	)		(18,429	)
	Goodwill		(4,622	)		(3,577	)
	Other		(700	)		(1,057	)
	Total deferred tax liabilities		(168,398	)		(125,976	)
	Net deferred tax liability	$	(144,142	)		(99,879	)

Commitments_Contingencies_and_1

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations [Abstract]
Schedule of payer mix for patient transport revenue		2014			2013
	Private insurance carriers		28	%		28	%
	Government-sponsored insurance plans		4	%		5	%
	Medicare		33	%		33	%
	Medicaid		23	%		21	%
	Self-pay patients		12	%		13	%

Business_Segment_Information_T

Business Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Segment Information [Abstract]
Schedule of summarized financial information for the Company's operating segments		AMS			Tourism			UR			Corporate			Intersegment			Consolidated
											Activities			Eliminations
	2014
	External revenue	$	863,867			116,036			24,784			86			--			1,004,773
	Intersegment revenue		--			--			11,409			--			(11,409	)		--
	Total revenue		863,867			116,036			36,193			86			(11,409	)		1,004,773
	Operating expenses		(579,196	)		(96,131	)		(35,312	)		(40,029	)		9,940			(740,728	)
	Depreciation & amortization		(69,432	)		(6,740	)		(2,333	)		(2,062	)		--			(80,567	)
	Interest expense		(16,186	)		(2,812	)		--			(2,753	)		1			(21,750	)
	Other, net		1,646			5			--			(540	)		(1	)		1,110
	Income tax expense		--			--			--			(63,460	)		--			(63,460	)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations		200,699			10,358			(1,452	)		(108,758	)		(1,469	)		99,378
	Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(3,908	)		--			--			--			--			(3,908	)
	Net income (loss)		196,791			10,358			(1,452	)		(108,758	)		(1,469	)		95,470
	Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(168	)		767			--			--			--			599
	Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	196,959			9,591			(1,452	)		(108,758	)		(1,469	)		94,871
		AMS			Tourism			UR			Corporate			Intersegment			Consolidated
											Activities			Eliminations
	2013
	External revenue	$	798,271			56,599			24,195			96			--			879,161
	Intersegment revenue		--			--			9,588			--			(9,588	)		--
	Total revenue		798,271			56,599			33,783			96			(9,588	)		879,161
	Operating expenses		(573,617	)		(46,226	)		(32,654	)		(34,262	)		8,652			(678,107	)
	Depreciation & amortization		(73,039	)		(2,960	)		(1,803	)		(1,712	)		--			(79,514	)
	Interest expense		(16,670	)		(1,044	)		--			(2,609	)		--			(20,323	)
	Other, net		1,209			--			(2	)		(71	)		--			1,136
	Income tax expense		--			--			--			(39,752	)		--			(39,752	)
	Income (loss) from continuing operations		136,154			6,369			(676	)		(78,310	)		(936	)		62,601
	Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax		(532	)		--			--			--			--			(532	)
	Net income (loss)		135,622			6,369			(676	)		(78,310	)		(936	)		62,069
	Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests		(318	)		48			--			--			--			(270	)
	Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$	135,940			6,321			(676	)		(78,310	)		(936	)		62,339
	2012
	External revenue	$	822,023			--			28,365			424			--			850,812
	Intersegment revenue		--			--			20,971			--			(20,971	)		--
	Total revenue		822,023			--			49,336			424			(20,971	)		850,812
	Operating expenses		(543,410	)		--			(38,272	)		(32,462	)		16,188			(597,956	)
	Depreciation & amortization		(79,683	)		--			(1,385	)		(1,456	)		--			(82,524	)
	Interest expense		(20,138	)		--			(1	)		(512	)		--			(20,651	)
	Other, net		3,122			--			--			141			--			3,263
	Income tax expense		--			--			--			(59,792	)		--			(59,792	)
	Net income (loss)	$	181,914			--			9,678			(93,657	)		(4,783	)		93,152

Unaudited_Quarterly_Financial_1

Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Schedule of summarized unaudited quarterly financial data		Quarter
		First			Second			Third			Fourth
	2014
	Revenue	$	221,069			257,637			276,917			249,150
	Operating income		24,776			54,211			61,282			43,209
	Income from continuing operations before income taxes		19,222			48,934			56,262			38,420
	Income from continuing operations		11,577			29,802			34,371			23,628
	Net income		11,052			28,924			33,840			21,654
	Net income attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		10,889			28,790			33,717			21,475
	Basic income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		0.29			0.75			0.92			0.6
	Discontinued operations		(.01	)		(.02	)		(.01	)		(.05	)
	Diluted income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		0.29			0.75			0.91			0.59
	Discontinued operations		(.01	)		(.02	)		(.01	)		(.05	)
	2013
	Revenue	$	179,229			226,205			251,353			222,374
	Operating income (loss)		(4,858	)		36,432			62,746			27,220
	Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		(9,373	)		31,583			57,905			22,238
	Income (loss) from continuing operations		(5,689	)		19,149			35,749			13,392
	Net income (loss)		(5,689	)		19,149			35,605			13,004
	Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries		(5,689	)		19,149			35,605			13,274
	Basic income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		(.15	)		0.49			0.91			0.3
	Discontinued operations		--			--			--			(.01	)
	Diluted income (loss) per common share:
	Continuing operations		(.15	)		0.49			0.91			0.29
	Discontinued operations		--			--			--			(.01	)

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014
	Aircraft
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]
Estimated useful economic life of the STC (in years)	5 years
Amortization method used for intangible assets	straight-line method
Future amortization expense for customer lists and other customer relationships [Abstract]
2015	$4,600,000
2016	4,337,000
2017	4,287,000
2018	4,287,000
2019	4,287,000
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	$24,500,000
Property, Plant and Equipment Assets Held-for-sale Disclosure [Abstract]
Number of aircraft classified as current assets held for sale	11
Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]
Estimated useful economic life of the STC (in years)	5 years
Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Amortization Expense, Maturity Schedule [Abstract]
Estimated useful economic life of the STC (in years)	16 years
Buildings, including hangars
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	40 years
Estimated residual value (in hundredths)	10.00%
Helicopters, including medical equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	8 years
Estimated residual value (in hundredths)	10.00%
Helicopters, including medical equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	25 years
Estimated residual value (in hundredths)	25.00%
Ground support equipment and rotables | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	5 years
Estimated residual value (in hundredths)	0.00%
Ground support equipment and rotables | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	10 years
Estimated residual value (in hundredths)	10.00%
Furniture and office equipment
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated residual value (in hundredths)	0.00%
Furniture and office equipment | Minimum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	3 years
Furniture and office equipment | Maximum
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Useful life (in years)	10 years

Acquisition_of_Subsidiaries_De

Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Details) (Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC, USD $)	1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 13, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
	Helicopter
Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Ownership interest acquired (in hundredths)		100.00%
Cash purchase price		$66,800,000
Estimate of increase to purchase price for adjustments	2,282,000		3,182,000
Ownership interest acquired by former owners	10.00%
Number of islands used for helicopter tours	5
Revenue included in consolidated statements of income	2,766,000
Income before income taxes, interest expense on acquisition financing and allocation of corporate office expenses	$478,000

Acquisition_of_Subsidiaries_De1

Acquisition of Subsidiaries (Details 1) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 13, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Goodwill			$127,269,000	$128,121,000
Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash purchase price	66,800,000
Estimate of increase to purchase price for adjustments				2,282,000	3,182,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Aircraft			33,440,000
Amortizable intangible assets			24,525,000
Goodwill			6,575,000
Other equipment and leasehold improvements			5,183,000
Working capital accounts, net			6,274,000
Total net assets			75,997,000
Redeemable non-controlling interest			-6,065,000
Purchase price			69,932,000
Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC | Adjustments
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Aircraft
Amortizable intangible assets
Goodwill			590,000
Other equipment and leasehold improvements
Working capital accounts, net			310,000
Total net assets			900,000
Redeemable non-controlling interest
Purchase price			900,000
Blue Hawaiian Holdings, LLC | Allocation
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Aircraft				33,440,000
Amortizable intangible assets				24,525,000
Goodwill				5,985,000
Other equipment and leasehold improvements				5,183,000
Working capital accounts, net				5,964,000
Total net assets				75,097,000
Redeemable non-controlling interest				-6,065,000
Purchase price				69,032,000
Sundance Helicopters, Inc
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Cash purchase price		46,300,000
Estimate of increase to purchase price for adjustments		906,000		843,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Aircraft				34,420,000
Amortizable intangible assets				5,142,000
Goodwill				4,174,000
Other equipment and leasehold improvements				901,000
Deferred tax asset				1,736,000
Working capital accounts, net				794,000
Purchase price				47,167,000
Sundance Helicopters, Inc | Adjustments
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Aircraft
Amortizable intangible assets				-593,000
Goodwill				665,000
Other equipment and leasehold improvements
Deferred tax asset				450,000
Working capital accounts, net				-585,000
Purchase price				-63,000
Sundance Helicopters, Inc | Allocation
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired, Goodwill, and Liabilities Assumed, Net [Abstract]
Aircraft		34,420,000
Amortizable intangible assets		5,735,000
Goodwill		3,509,000
Other equipment and leasehold improvements		901,000
Deferred tax asset		1,286,000
Working capital accounts, net		1,379,000
Purchase price		$47,230,000

Discontinued_Operations_Detail

Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2013
Operating expenses:
Loss on disposition of assets	$455,000	$519,000	$1,329,000
American Jets, Inc
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures [Abstract]
Patient transport revenue, net	4,078,000	2,440,000
Operating expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	529,000	141,000
Loss on disposition of assets	791,000
Goodwill write-off	1,468,000
Other operating expenses	7,634,000	3,158,000
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes	-6,344,000	-859,000
Income tax benefit	2,436,000	327,000
Loss from discontinued operations	-3,908,000	-532,000
Purchase price				1,700,000
Assets held for sale	1,800,000
Goodwill	$1,468,000

Patient_Transport_Revenue_Reco2

Patient Transport Revenue Recognition (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenue from External Customer [Line Items]
Allowance for uncompensated care as a percentage of receivables from non-governmental payers (in hundredths)	38.90%	39.20%
Allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care [Abstract]
Allowance for contractual discounts	$193,954	$183,106
Allowance for uncompensated care	154,544	118,612
Total	348,498	301,718
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts	1,140,324	968,985	910,939
Third-Party Payers
Allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care [Abstract]
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts	864,647	723,561	693,395
Self-pay patients
Allowances for contractual discounts and uncompensated care [Abstract]
Patient transport revenue, net of provision for contractual discounts	$275,677	$245,424	$217,544

Costs_in_Excess_of_Billings_an2

Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Costs in Excess of Billings and Billings in Excess of Costs [Abstract]
Expected period to complete contracts in process	1 year
Contracts in process [Abstract]
Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts	$2,806	$4,941
Estimated contribution to earnings and indirect costs	836	2,454
Total costs incurred and estimated earnings	3,642	7,395
Less billings to date	-4,391	-6,739
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings (billings in excess of costs), net	($749)	$656

Fair_Value_of_Financial_Instru1

Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Percentage of fuel cost of operating expenses (in hundredths)	4.60%	4.10%	3.80%
Derivative agreements (in dollars per gallon)	3.44	3.55	3.5
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized loss on derivative instrument	$70,000	$143,000	$257,000
Estimate of Fair Value
Fair value of financial instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt, fair value disclosure	510,353,000	513,436,000
Carrying (Reported) Amount
Fair value of financial instruments [Abstract]
Long-term debt, fair value disclosure	512,666,000	516,453,000
Aircraft operations expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Unrealized loss on derivative instrument	$70,000	$143,000	$257,000

Longterm_Debt_Details

Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	$512,666,000	$516,453,000
Less current installments	-45,827,000	-39,415,000
Long-term debt, less current installments	466,839,000	477,038,000
Defined events of default [Abstract]
Threshold for outstanding obligations	3,000,000
Threshold for judgments	750,000
Aggregate maturities of long-term debt [Abstract]
2015	45,827,000
2016	44,631,000
2017	247,506,000
2018	24,978,000
2019	15,876,000
Thereafter	133,848,000
Term loan due 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	275,000,000	332,510,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	1.94%
Revolving Credit Facility Due 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt		12,000,000
Maximum borrowing capacity	100,000,000
Available borrowing capacity	95,900,000
Number of letters of credit reducing available borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility	4
Amount of letters of credit reducing available borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility	4,100,000
Notes payable (2.31% to 6.57%) due 2015 through 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	213,312,000	156,841,000
Interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)	2.31%
Interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)	6.57%
Notes payable (variable) due 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	916,000	1,276,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	4.00%
Note payable (4.92%) due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	4,130,000	4,425,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	4.92%
Notes payable (3.05% to 4.00%) due in 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	17,150,000	6,861,000
Interest rate, minimum (in hundredths)	3.05%
Interest rate, maximum (in hundredths)	4.00%
Note payable (4.04%) due 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt	2,158,000	2,540,000
Interest rate (in hundredths)	4.04%
Senior credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum additional draws on senior credit facility	$40,000,000
Payment terms, description	Quarterly principal payments began in 2013 as follows: 1.25% of total principal balance per quarter for quarters 1 - 8; 1.875% of total principal balance per quarter for quarters 9 - 16; and 2.5% of total principal balance per quarter for quarters 17 - 19. All remaining principal is due at the maturity date in December 2017 but can be prepaid at any time without penalty
Interest rate, description	Base Rate Loans (as defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement) bear interest at the greater of (i) prime or (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.25% to 1.25%. The interest rate for LIBOR Rate Loans (as defined in the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement) is generally the LIBOR rate plus 1.25% to 2.25%
Percentage of principal balance payments per quarter for quarters 1 - 8 (in hundredths)	1.25%
Percentage of principal balance payments per quarter for quarters 9 - 16 (in hundredths)	1.88%
Percentage of principal balance payments per quarter for quarters 17 - 19 (in hundredths)	2.50%
Senior credit facility | Minimum | Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	0.25%
Senior credit facility | Minimum | LIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	1.25%
Senior credit facility | Maximum | Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	1.25%
Senior credit facility | Maximum | LIBOR Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate (in hundredths)	2.25%

Leases_Details

Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases [Abstract]
2015	$27,868,000
2016	26,478,000
2017	22,812,000
2018	17,072,000
2019	12,901,000
Thereafter	25,641,000
Total minimum lease payments	132,772,000
Less amounts representing interest	-12,284,000
Present value of minimum capital lease payments	120,488,000
Less current installments	-23,954,000	-29,116,000
Obligations under capital leases, less current installments (note 8)	96,534,000	131,249,000
Future minimum lease payments under operating leases [Abstract]
2015	5,592,000
2016	4,054,000
2017	2,963,000
2018	1,915,000
2019	1,449,000
Thereafter	23,620,000
Total minimum lease payments	39,593,000
Rent expense relating to operating leases [Abstract]
Rent expense relating to operating leases	13,968,000	14,122,000	13,732,000
Unamortized completion allowances	8,648,000	11,140,000
Property held under capital leases [Abstract]
Property held under capital leases, net of accumulated depreciation	$109,376,000	$145,620,000

Stockholders_Equity_Details

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in net income due to adjustments to redeemable non-controlling interest		$1,828,000	($1,976,000)
Stock Split	three-for-one
Common stock, shares authorized	23,500,000	70,500,000	70,500,000
Preferred stock, shares authorized	5,000,000	15,000,000	15,000,000
Cash dividend declared (in dollars per share)				$7
Cash dividend declared				91,629,000
Cash dividend declared date				10-Dec-12
Cash dividend paid date				28-Dec-12
Cash dividend record date				20-Dec-12
Dividend on restricted shares forfeited		$8,000	$34,000
Reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (in shares)		39,163,080	38,923,206	38,594,286
Dilutive effect of:
Common stock options (in shares)		107,125	217,082	398,452
Unvested restricted stock (in shares)		78,086	70,104	51,730
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (in shares)		39,348,291	39,210,392	39,044,468
Common stock options
Stockholders Equity [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted income per share (in shares)		343,730	55,000

Stockbased_Compensation_Detail

Stock-based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Dec. 03, 2012	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2014	Dec. 02, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock split	three-for-one
Stock-based compensation costs [Abstract]
Stock-based compensation expense		$4,134,000	$3,560,000	$2,044,000
Total unrecognized compensation cost		12,827,000
Period over which unrecognized compensation cost is expected to be recognized (in years)		1 year 10 months 24 days
2006 Equity Compensation Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Common stock available under the plan (in shares)	5,400,000					3,000,000
Maximum term of award granted (in years)		10 years
Stock split		three-for-one
2006 Equity Compensation Plan | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of restricted stock, (in years)		5 years
2006 Equity Compensation Plan | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period of restricted stock, (in years)		1 year
Stock Options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Weighted average fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)		$12.85	$11.54	$9.13
Weighted average assumptions [Abstract]
Expected term (in years)		3 years 3 months 18 days	3 years 1 month 6 days	3 years
Expected volatility (in hundredths)		36.00%	39.00%	46.00%
Risk-free interest rate (in hundredths)		1.10%	0.50%	0.30%
Expected dividend yield (in hundredths)		0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Summary of option activity [Roll Forward]
Outstanding at beginning of period (in shares)		264,187
Granted (in shares)		343,730
Exercised (in shares)		-112,847
Outstanding at end of period (in shares)		495,070	264,187
Exercisable at end of period (in shares)		151,340
Weighted average exercise price [Abstract]
Weighted average exercise price of options outstanding at beginning of period (in dollars per share)		$19.90
Weighted average exercise price of options granted (in dollars per share)		$47.43
Weighted average exercise price of options exercised (in dollars per share)		$12.65
Weighted average exercise price of options outstanding at end of period (in dollars per share)		$40.67	$19.90
Weighted average exercise price of options exercisable at end of period (in dollars per share)		$25.31
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life Abstract
Weighted-average remaining contractual life of options outstanding at end of period (in years)		3 years 9 months 18 days
Weighted-average remaining contractual life of options exercisable at end of period (in years)		1 year 8 months 12 days
Aggregate intrinsic value [Abstract]
Aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at end of period		3,301,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable at end of period		2,836,000
Aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the period		4,456,000	8,300,000	9,614,000
Restricted Stock
Summary of restricted stock activity [Roll Forward]
Nonvested at beginning of period (in shares)		236,950
Granted (in shares)		48,000
Vested (in shares)		-51,650
Forfeited (in shares)		-9,500
Nonvested at end of period (in shares)		223,800	236,950
Weighted average grant-date fair value [Abstract]
Weighted average grant-date fair value of nonvested shares at beginning of period (in dollars per share)		$37.24
Weighted average grant-date fair value of shares granted (in dollars per share)		$52.26
Weighted average grant-date fair value of shares vested (in dollars per share)		$24.21
Weighted average grant-date fair value of shares forfeited (in dollars per share)		$42.86
Weighted average grant-date fair value of nonvested shares at end of period (in dollars per share)		$43.69	$37.24
Total fair value of shares vested during the period		2,965,000	2,868,000	2,644,000
Performance Shares Unit
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Maximum number of performance share units that may vest under specified award					105,512
Vesting period of restricted stock, (in years)					3 years
Performance share unit measurement method					Monte Carlo simulation
Estimate number of performance share units					63,938
Value of performance share units					$4,795,000

Air_Medical_Services_Contract_2

Air Medical Services Contract Revenue (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Air Medical Services Contract Revenue [Abstract]
Initial term of operating agreements, lower range limit	1 year
Initial term of operating agreements, upper range limit	5 years
Future revenue from fixed-fee portion of operating agreements [Abstract]
2015	$99,027
2016	55,029
2017	35,399
2018	21,452
2019	10,445
Thereafter	2,962
Total	$224,314

Income_Taxes_Details

Income Taxes (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current income tax expense:
Federal	($14,432,000)	($9,915,000)	($37,323,000)
State	-3,977,000	-2,902,000	-7,211,000
Foreign
Total current	-18,409,000	-12,817,000	-44,534,000
Deferred income tax expense:
Federal	-38,735,000	-23,126,000	-12,956,000
State	-6,316,000	-3,809,000	-2,302,000
Foreign
Total deferred	-45,051,000	-26,935,000	-15,258,000
Total income tax expense	-63,460,000	-39,752,000	-59,792,000
Reconciliation of income taxes [Abstract]
Federal statutory income tax rate (in hundredths)	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Tax at the federal statutory rate	-56,993,000	-35,823,000	-53,530,000
State income taxes, net of federal benefit, including adjustments based on filed state income tax returns	-5,777,000	-3,716,000	-5,812,000
Nontaxable (nondeductible) items	-601,000	-937,000	2,000
Adjustment to filed returns	-195,000	-18,000	-45,000
Foreign income tax at different rate than U.S.	-94,000	-32,000
Change in valuation allowance	-125,000	-42,000
Non-taxable earnings of non-controlling interests	209,000	95,000
Tax credits	234,000	254,000	174,000
Changes in estimated state tax rates		660,000	-667,000
Other	-118,000	-193,000	86,000
Net income tax expense	-63,460,000	-39,752,000	-59,792,000
Excess tax benefits related to stock option plans [Abstract]
Excess tax benefits related to stock option plans	1,951,000	3,015,000	3,447,000
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards	3,435,000	6,517,000
Accruals and other, principally due to differences in employee compensation and benefits	10,858,000	9,429,000
Other liabilities, principally due to differences in revenue recognition	10,130,000	10,193,000
Total deferred tax assets, gross	24,423,000	26,139,000
Valuation allowances	-167,000	-42,000
Total deferred tax assets, net	24,256,000	26,097,000
Deferred tax liabilities:
Equipment and leasehold improvements, principally due to differences in bases and depreciation methods	-107,975,000	-79,974,000
Intangible assets, principally due to differences in bases and amortization methods	-27,519,000	-22,939,000
Allowance for uncollectible accounts	-27,582,000	-18,429,000
Goodwill	-4,622,000	-3,577,000
Other	-700,000	-1,057,000
Total deferred tax liabilities	-168,398,000	-125,976,000
Net deferred tax liability	-144,142,000	-99,879,000
Liability for uncertain tax positions			1,600,000
Corresponding asset recorded against the tax liability			1,600,000
State
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Net operating loss carryforwards	21,600,000
Net operating loss carryforwards relating to pre-acquisition periods	$57,300,000

Employee_Benefit_Plans_Details

Employee Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Employee Benefit Plans [Abstract]
Employee contribution rate, maximum (in hundredths)	60.00%
Employee contribution, IRS maximum	$17,500
Employee contribution, IRS maximum, age 50 or older	23,000
Employer discretionary match based on employee contributions (in hundredths)	70.00%
Employer discretionary match based on gross pay (in hundredths)	8.00%
Employer contributions	$9,418,000	$10,786,000	$9,372,000

Commitments_Contingencies_and_2

Commitments, Contingencies, and Concentrations (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Open purchase commitments [Abstract]
Open purchase commitments	171.6
Total number of aircraft to be purchased under purchase commitment	48
Nonrefundable deposits	13.8
Number of Helicopters | Supplier Concentration Risk, Helicopter Fleet | Airbus Helicopters
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	80.00%
Number of Helicopters | Supplier Concentration Risk, Helicopter Fleet | Bell Helicopter, Inc.
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	16.00%
Number of Employees | Labor Force Concentration Risk | Pilots Under Collective Bargaining Agreement
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	26.00%
Number of Transports | Customer Concentration Risk, Transports | Private insurance carriers
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	28.00%	28.00%
Number of Transports | Customer Concentration Risk, Transports | Government-sponsored insurance plans
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	4.00%	5.00%
Number of Transports | Customer Concentration Risk, Transports | Medicare
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	33.00%	33.00%
Number of Transports | Customer Concentration Risk, Transports | Medicaid
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	23.00%	21.00%
Number of Transports | Customer Concentration Risk, Transports | Self-pay patients
Concentration Risk [Line Items]
Concentration risk, percentage (in hundredths)	12.00%	13.00%
Revolving Credit Facility Due 2017
Letters of Credit [Line Items]
Number of letters of credit reducing available borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility	4
Amount of letters of credit reducing available borrowing capacity under revolving credit facility	4.1

Business_Segment_Information_D

Business Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue	$249,150	$276,917	$257,637	$221,069	$222,374	$251,353	$226,205	$179,229	$1,004,773	$879,161	$850,812
Operating expenses									-740,728	-678,107	-597,956
Depreciation and amortization									-80,567	-79,514	-82,524
Interest expense									-21,750	-20,323	-20,651
Other, net									1,110	1,136	3,263
Net income tax expense									-63,460	-39,752	-59,792
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23,628	34,371	29,802	11,577	13,392	35,749	19,149	-5,689	99,378	62,601	93,152
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax									-3,908	-532
Net income (loss)	21,654	33,840	28,924	11,052	13,004	35,605	19,149	-5,689	95,470	62,069	93,152
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									599	-270
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	21,475	33,717	28,790	10,889	13,274	35,605	19,149	-5,689	94,871	62,339	93,152
Goodwill	127,269				128,121				127,269	128,121
External Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									1,004,773	879,161	850,812
Intersegment Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Operating Segments | AMS
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									863,867	798,271	822,023
Operating expenses									-579,196	-573,617	-543,410
Depreciation and amortization									-69,432	-73,039	-79,683
Interest expense									-16,186	-16,670	-20,138
Other, net									1,646	1,209	3,122
Net income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations									200,699	136,154
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax									-3,908	-532
Net income (loss)									196,791	135,622	181,914
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									-168	-318
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries									196,959	135,940
Goodwill	116,025								116,025
Operating Segments | AMS | External Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									863,867	798,271	822,023
Operating Segments | AMS | Intersegment Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Operating Segments | Tourism
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									116,036	56,599
Operating expenses									-96,131	-46,226
Depreciation and amortization									-6,740	-2,960
Interest expense									-2,812	-1,044
Other, net									5
Net income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations									10,358	6,369
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss)									10,358	6,369
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests									767	48
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries									9,591	6,321
Goodwill	10,749								10,749
Operating Segments | Tourism | External Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									116,036	56,599
Operating Segments | Tourism | Intersegment Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Operating Segments | UR
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									36,193	33,783	49,336
Operating expenses									-35,312	-32,654	-38,272
Depreciation and amortization									-2,333	-1,803	-1,385
Interest expense											-1
Other, net										-2
Net income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations									-1,452	-676
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss)									-1,452	-676	9,678
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries									-1,452	-676
Goodwill	495								495
Operating Segments | UR | External Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									24,784	24,195	28,365
Operating Segments | UR | Intersegment Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									11,409	9,588	20,971
Corporate Activities
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									86	96	424
Operating expenses									-40,029	-34,262	-32,462
Depreciation and amortization									-2,062	-1,712	-1,456
Interest expense									-2,753	-2,609	-512
Other, net									-540	-71	141
Net income tax expense									-63,460	-39,752	-59,792
Income (loss) from continuing operations									-108,758	-78,310
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss)									-108,758	-78,310	-93,657
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries									-108,758	-78,310
Corporate Activities | External Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									86	96	424
Corporate Activities | Intersegment Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									-11,409	-9,588	-20,971
Operating expenses									-9,940	8,652	16,188
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense									1
Other, net									-1
Net income tax expense
Income (loss) from continuing operations									-1,469	-936
Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax
Net income (loss)									-1,469	-936	-4,783
Less net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries									-1,469	-936
Intersegment Eliminations | External Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue
Intersegment Eliminations | Intersegment Revenue
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenue									($11,409)	($9,588)	($20,971)

Unaudited_Quarterly_Financial_2

Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Unaudited Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Revenue	$249,150	$276,917	$257,637	$221,069	$222,374	$251,353	$226,205	$179,229	$1,004,773	$879,161	$850,812
Operating income (loss)	43,209	61,282	54,211	24,776	27,220	62,746	36,432	-4,858	183,478	121,540	170,332
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	38,420	56,262	48,934	19,222	22,238	57,905	31,583	-9,373	162,838	102,353	152,944
Income (loss) from continuing operations	23,628	34,371	29,802	11,577	13,392	35,749	19,149	-5,689	99,378	62,601	93,152
Net income (loss)	21,654	33,840	28,924	11,052	13,004	35,605	19,149	-5,689	95,470	62,069	93,152
Net income (loss) attributable to Air Methods Corporation and subsidiaries	$21,475	$33,717	$28,790	$10,889	$13,274	$35,605	$19,149	($5,689)	$94,871	$62,339	$93,152
Basic income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.60	$0.92	$0.75	$0.29	$0.30	$0.91	$0.49	($0.15)	$2.57	$1.56	$2.41
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.05)	($0.01)	($0.02)	($0.01)	($0.01)				($0.10)	($0.01)
Diluted income (loss) per common share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$0.59	$0.91	$0.75	$0.29	$0.29	$0.91	$0.49	($0.15)	$2.56	$1.55	$2.39
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	($0.05)	($0.01)	($0.02)	($0.01)	($0.01)				($0.10)	($0.01)

Schedule_II_Valuation_and_Qual1

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Allowance for contractual discounts
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	$183,106		$134,257		$101,016
Additions	1,221,662	[1]	887,735	[1]	744,212	[1]
Deductions	-1,210,814	[2]	-838,886	[2]	-710,971	[2]
Balance at End of Period	193,954		183,106		134,257
Allowance for uncompensated care
Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward]
Balance at Beginning of Period	118,612		121,623		92,995
Additions	464,145	[1]	383,636	[1]	320,221	[1]
Deductions	-428,213	[2]	-386,647	[2]	-291,593	[2]
Balance at End of Period	$154,544		$118,612		$121,623
[1]	Amounts excluded from revenue.
[2]	Actual write-offs and charges to allowances.