St. Luke’s Health System’s bases at Twin Falls and Meridian are expected to upgrade their helicopters to Bell 429s in the near future.  Like their current 430s, these will be leased from Boise-based Idaho Helicopters, and will half the lift-off time offered by the current machines to just four minutes.  An exact date is not yet known.

St Lukes are particularly looking forward to the rear-loading aspect of the 429 which will allow them to accommodate a full-size stretcher.  “Having our own stretcher saves time because right now we’re transferring patients from our stretcher to a hospital stretcher,” flight paramedic Blaine Patterson said. “For critical patients, one less move makes a big difference.”

Air St Lukes operates three bases

• “St. Luke’s Meridian ” at Meridian
• “St. Luke’s Magic Valley” at Twin Falls
• “St. Luke’s Valley County” at McCall

Between these bases, they fly two Bell 430s N430SL and N431SL along with a backup helicopter MD902  registered N902SL – all operated for them by Idaho Helicopters.  Air Saint Luke’s also has a Beech 200 Super King Air, registered N634B and operated by Turbo Air.

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com