flyer wrote:......Since we had a membership, we were not billed......

I'm curious if your membership was with the outfit that did the airlift, or an affiliate?
Or are these memberships reciprocal?

In California, the county sheriff is responsible for SAR coordination. If the county sheriff doesn't have an air asset, they will usually reach out to an agency that does (neighboring county, state agency, Nat. Guard) to conduct the search. If the injured party is located, they will likely be rescued, but many public agencies don't have paramedics on staff and aren't suited to transport the party to the hospital and the injured is often turned over to a for profit agency. I don't know of any counties that are charging for their services, but I know the topic has been discussed before.

Hotrod

I am a member of Lifeflight, $69.00 per year for my wife and me. The pilot and the 2 paramedics were very professional. They did an outstanding job. They handle the Idaho backcountry from several locations. Check their website for their reciprocal agreements. My Garmin InReach Mini was literally a life saver. I reported this story last year after it happened.

There’s a few places in Idaho that during winter months have signs placed that say something like ‘If you travel beyond this point and need SAR you will be billed for the cost of SAR services.’ I personally don’t know anyone that has been billed.

Anyone else follow the news of that lady that got “lost” in Zions NP last summer. She got billed for SAR according to the news.

Even if NY decides to start charging for rescues, I think I have credit for one free rescue after one of the local forest rangers wrapped his raft yesterday on a family river trip and I plucked his wife and young daughter out of the river- as well as his guide stick.

Pete