Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s) flies more than 30,000 miles annually in Georgia’s only dedicated pediatric helicopter. They recently updated their capabilities with the world’s first EC145e, completed by Metro Aviation.

The EC145e retains the power, performance and reliability of the legacy EC145, but with a useful load of up to 300 pounds more than the original. Children’s new aircraft is equipped with Metro’s air conditioning system, HeliSAS and specialty pediatric care equipment. The crew has access to Heliox, a High Flow Humidifier and nitric oxide inside their mobile ICU, allowing the medical team to stabilize breathing whether the patient has a compromised airway, unstable lungs or other breathing ailments. In addition, a state-of-the-art CMAC camera will allow the crew to safely visualize the small pediatric airway in the event they must place a breathing tube.

“This new aircraft is truly a mobile pediatric ICU. We have the most highly trained pediatric medical team in the state, and we also have the most capable aircraft to provide the care our community expects from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta,” said Greg Pereira, Director of Transport and Trauma.

The EC145e can accommodate up to five specialty care clinicians or four clinicians and a family member. Children’s expects to have the new aircraft in service later this summer. This is the first of 6 EC145e aircraft scheduled to enter service between now and the second quarter of 2017. It will also be displayed on the Metro Aviation booth at AMTC in Charlotte, NC, September 26-28.