Nationwide air medical transportation service provider, Metro Aviation, Inc. recently announced the completion and delivery of an air medically equipped, dual pilot IFR offshore EC135 with NVG capability. The aircraft was finished at the Metro Aviation main facility in Shreveport, Louisiana and delivered to Acadian Ambulance, Air Med Services in Lafayette, Louisiana. The new addition brings the operating fleet at Acadian to nine helicopters operating along the Gulf Coast. Metro has provided FAR Part 135 helicopter transportation to Acadian since 2002.
The new EC135P2+ entered service last year is scheduled to begin dual pilot IFR offshore operations serving the offshore oil and gas industry this month. The aircraft is currently operating night offshore NVG. The entire Acadian fleet also recently received a conversion to night vision capable cockpits and cabins for increased safety and mission readiness while using night vision devices.
Milton Geltz, Managing Director for Metro Aviation, remarked, “Although we are a longtime air medical operator and helicopter completions center, this aircraft is the first IFR offshore aircraft both for Metro and Acadian. The new helicopter adds yet another dimension to the comprehensive helicopter transportation service that we provide to one of the country’s premier ambulance providers. The IFR and NVG components certainly increase safety and efficiency for the crews as well as patients.”
Metro Aviation is now the second largest traditional air medical operator in the United States with over 70 airplanes and helicopters providing around the clock aviation transportation services. The company also recently completed over 30 new helicopters last year in Shreveport, Louisiana.