TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) _ Two health care organizations have announced a joint venture for providing air ambulance services in northern Michigan.

Traverse City-based Munson Healthcare and Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health said Wednesday that a new operation called North Flight Aero Med will begin service in early 2016.

The health systems say that North Flight Aero Med will operate two aircraft from Traverse City.

Officials say the operation will acquire a King Air B200 airplane from Munson Healthcare and a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter from Spectrum Health. They say the aircraft will handle both emergency and non-emergency patient transport needs.