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Valley Aircare is the only air emergency service in the Rio Grande Valley.

And has been servicing the Valley for 16-years.

But with the economic crunch, it’s now being forced to halt it's helicopter services; which could cause major trouble for remote locations in the Valley

"If you could do a flight a day, it would help offset some of the cost, but we're not doing a flight a day, we are doing a flight every other day, so our numbers have decreased" said Rene Perez, Director of Patient Transportation Services.

Perez said they own the helicopter and keep it ready for service on a daily basis.

However, Metro Aviations has a contract to fly and maintain the aircraft, something they said is getting too expensive, so they have no choice to end their contract.

"We've been able to respond to thousands of calls, over 5,000 transports we've done with the helicopter, you know its going to be a large piece of territory that’s going to be without it's service" said Perez.

The helicopter service was put into place in 1995 due to congestion along the Queen Isabella Causeway during spring break.

South Texas Emergency Care Foundations will continue to use ground transportation and airplanes, but getting to the island during spring break, may be a challenge.

 "You know, we have four or five ambulances on the island that are tied up on calls or stuck in traffic, and the helicopter is very vital in moving some of these patients out" said Perez.

Currently, Perez and his crew are in the process of finding another maintenance company before their contract with Metro Aviations runs out on October 31st.

A valley hospitals that currently uses Aircare services said they will be affected.

A statement from the Valley Baptist Health System reads in part, “The South Texas Emergency Care Foundation and Valley Aircare have provided a vital, life-saving service to the Valley and our patients, and we hope that they are able to find a resolution to this situation so that air ambulance service can continue in the valley”.