The Quad City MedForce – the region’s emergency helicopter service based in Colona – has received a top honor from the Illinois Department of Transportation (DOT).
The emergency services provider recently was named the 2025 Heliport of the Year through IDOT.
Founded in 2000 and supported by local communities, Quad City MedForce, which does business as MedForce Aeromedical Transport, is a non-profit aeromedical transport organization with operations in nearby Colona and West Burlington, Iowa.
“We are proud to provide rapid, safe, and competent emergency medical helicopter transport from hospitals and EMS agencies in eastern Iowa, west-central Illinois and portions of northeast Missouri to regional tertiary care facilities,” the company said in a news release.
Last year, Quad City MedForce marked its 25th anniversary with a celebration in Bettendorf near the MercyOne Genesis Bettendorf Emergency Care facility on 53rd Avenue.
“Our airports connect us to the world, one of the many reasons why Illinois is the transportation hub of North America,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said in the release announcing IDOT’s aviation awards. “These awards highlight their efforts as well as those of the entire Illinois aviation community.”
The winners were selected based on their accomplishments, including an outstanding partnership with IDOT and a strong commitment to customer safety and satisfaction. Also among the award considerations are cooperation and coordination with the state, the safety record, facility maintenance and promotion of aviation.
Illinois is home to almost 100 public airports and heliports, with nearly 3,000 aircraft registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The system of airports supports more than 492,000 jobs, with a combined payroll of $21.9 billion and a total economic impact of $95.4 billion. Across the state, there are more than 700 aviation facilities, including heliports, balloon, glider and ultra-light landing facilities as well as grass landing strips.
Others IDOT aviation award winners included:
- Primary Airport of the Year: Rockford International
- Reliever Airports of the Year: Lansing Municipal
- Large General Aviation Airport of the Year: Mt. Sterling Municipal.
- Small General Aviation Airport of the Year: Greenville Airport.
- Airport of the Year: Rinkenberger Airport in Bradford.
