Dalarna’s County Council has not been able to reach a final decision whether to acquire an EMS helicopter or not. The decision to buy a helicopter was expected to be reached in a meeting earlier today, but it was postponed due to the opposing parties’ demand for a more thorough investigation. The leading parties states that this will considerably increase the costs of the project since Dalarna will loose its chance to buy a helicopter together with Värmland’s County Council.

The projected helicopter was offered as an option to Dalarna when Värmland decided to buy its own helicopter in March 2013. However, Värmland’s own procurement is currently undergoing a formal appeal process, why the official order has not yet been finalized. Värmland’s HEMS is expected to be operational in Karlstad from mid-2014.

Swedish Radio (SR) and Dalarnas Tidningar (DT) states that Dalarna County’s acquisition now has to be evaluated further before a formal decision for an own EMS helicopter can be made by the council. The majority of the council is, however, positive to a helicopter.

The service is aimed to be operational in Mora from mid-2015. It is expected to bring on an initial cost of 63 million Swedish kronor (SEK), approx €7,05 million EUR, and an annual cost of roughly 25 million SEK, which equals approx €2,8 million EUR.

Reproduced from Nordic Rotors with permission. Copyright and full responsibility for the content of this article remains with Nordic Rotors