Grand Prairie, Texas – American Eurocopter is pleased to announce the delivery of a new, state-of-the-art EC145 to Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance, the air medical transport service for Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, Virginia.  The aircraft will be based at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (Virginia), the only Level One Trauma Center in the area.

The EC145’s combination of size, performance and advanced technologies has made it the platform of choice for a growing number of EMS operators in the United States and around the world. Powered by two Turbomeca ARRIEL engines, the aircraft offers excellent performance, a fast cruise speed and advanced technologies. Its high set main and tail rotors, rear-loading clamshell doors, large cabin, extra payload capacity, unmatched visibility and additional safety features are ideal for Air Medical missions.

“The proven track record of the EC145 and our overwhelming satisfaction in the reliability and performance of our BK117 were prime factors in our decision,” says Chris Cannon, RN, Manager of Patient Care Services for Nightingale.  “We considered other aircraft, but being a single ship program, we needed the certainty and multi-mission capability of this helicopter and supplier in 24/7/365 operations.”

Nightingale began operations in February 1982 and was the 38th hospital-based air medical helicopter program in the U.S.  The program, named to honor the well-known Nurse and to engender the idea of “the friendly bird that flies at night”, transitioned to the twin engine BO105 in 1983 to enhance its safety and performance capabilities. Since 1996, the program has operated a BK117.

The Sentara Nightingale service provides rapid transport of the critically ill or injured from a scene of an accident or incident or from one hospital to another with more specialized critical care capabilities. Nightingale has performed more than 18,000 patient transport missions since it began service. The EC 145 is being completed at Metro Aviation, where it will receive a state-of-the-art interior including the latest hi-tech cardiac and pulmonary equipment.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.