Each year, more than 2,200 children are transported to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas.  Teddy Bear Transport is one of the largest pediatric transport programs in the nation and now, a member of the Metro Aviation family.

Teddy Bear Transport utilizes both fixed and rotor wing for air transport.  Metro Aviation will assume operation of the program’s SPIFR EC145 and King Air B200 next month, and will begin proving runs to add the customer’s new Cessna Encore Turbofan upon its arrival in late March.

The program’s EC145 is equipped with HTAWS, cockpit video and voice recording system, XM weather radar and a DVD system for the patient.  The team was the first in Texas to utilize high-frequency ventilation in an air medical helicopter and one of the first transport teams to utilize nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases on transport.

“Something Metro programs have in common is they are run by a core group of innovators and people that really care about this industry.  Cook Children’s fits that description and we are pleased to welcome them to the Metro family,” said Metro Aviation President Mike Stanberry.

“We are very excited about our partnership and future with Metro Aviation,” said Debbie Boudreaux, director of Cook Children’s Teddy Bear Transport. “Transporting our children safely and keeping them healthy is our number one goal and partnering with Metro Aviation will help us achieve that.”

Cook Children’s Teddy Bear Transport transitioned from its previous operator to Metro Aviation March 1, 2014.