American Eurocopter announced today that Geisinger Medical Center has ordered another EC145 for its Life Flight® program. This is the program’s fourth EC145 as it continues upgrade its fleet and standardize on the proven and popular EC145 platform.

Geisinger Life Flight is a long-time Eurocopter operator. In 1983, Life Flight became the first hospital-based BK117 operator in the world. After more than 20 years with the BK fleet, it began a fleet replacement and standardization program in 2005. The program held an extensive review of the aircraft available and selected the BK’s successor: the EC145.

“The BK117 platform earned the respect of our crew and our program,” said Jerry Splitt, Life Flight Program Manager. “We selected the EC145 because Eurocopter builds off the successes of the BK and has made it an even better aircraft.”

The EC145 provides Geisinger Life Flight with proven power and performance, a large cabin and the endurance it needs to fulfill its crucial missions in the state of Pennsylvania. The advanced avionics capabilities of the EC145 have allowed Life Flight to enact an active instrument program, which not only allows their flight crews to conduct instrument-only flights, but also single-pilot, IFR flights.

“We have set the highest level of standards for our crew and our program, and we expect the same out of our aircraft and the companies we work with,” continued Splitt. “The EC145 meets those standards and the great support we receive from American Eurocopter helps to make sure that we stay there.”

Geisinger Life Flight is well under way in its fleet replacement and has recognized the benefits of its standardization plan. “With a common platform, we are able to take advantage of efficiencies from operation and training standpoints. With the common EC145 platform, we are also able to mitigate risk and take advantage of the aircraft’s twin-engine performance,” explains Splitt. The program would like to add another EC145 and then utilize the BK117’s as backup aircraft.

This latest EC145 is scheduled for delivery in May, and Geisinger Life Flight is currently evaluating completion packages. EraMED is the operator for Geisinger Medical Center’s Life Flight program.

Geisinger is an integrated health services organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development and implementation of innovative care models, including advanced medical home and ProvenCare (“warranty”) programs. The system serves more than 2.6 million residents throughout 42 counties in central and northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer and markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. American Eurocopter’s headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS.