On the heels of the first air medical EC155 completions in North America for the University of Michigan Survival Flight, Metro Aviation continues to book new aircraft completions and sign new operating customers for what will undoubtedly be a record year for business.  The company has recently signed contracts to complete two new EC145 helicopters in air medical configuration for Duke University with the first aircraft scheduled to begin customization at the Metro facility in early November.  Additionally, Metro will soon begin delivery of the first of three EC145s being completed for Sanford Health in North Dakota.

Metro Aviation has added four new air medical operating programs to its portfolio this year with eight new EC130s for Med Flight of Ohio, five EC145s for Indiana University (IU) Health System LifeLine, and with Children’s Medical Center of New Orleans and Norfolk, VA based Nightingale both operating EC145s.  All of these aircraft were completed by Metro Aviation, Inc.

Metro Aviation, Inc. was the first helicopter completion specialist to create a new air medical interior not only for the EC135 and EC145, but recently for the EC155B1 with operational check flights scheduled for these aircraft within the next two weeks. The company also pioneered the its own Single Pilot IFR(SPIFR) package for the EC135 and EC145 and has completed more of these model type helicopters than any other aftermarket completion facility in the world.

The company has long been recognized as a leader in not only helicopter completions but also as one of the largest traditional air medical transportation providers in the United States with an operating fleet of nearly one hundred airplanes and helicopters.

The company developed the world’s first FAA certified Level D EC135 simulator in conjunction with partner, Flight Safety International, and sends all of its pilots to simulator training on an annual basis.  Metro’s entire helicopter fleet is complete with night vision compatible pilot and medical crew stations and with the latest in safety initiatives such as the North Flight Data Systems voice, video and flight data recording system.  HeliSAS, a new lightweight digital two axis autopilot system is also being installed on all the company’s light single engine operating fleet around the country as part of its far reaching safety initiatives.

Other activities for Metro Aviation include five additional EC135s reconfigured and operated by the company for Acadian Ambulance Air Med and a BK117C1 fielded as a spare aircraft for IU Health LifeLine.

Metro Aviation, Inc. will be exhibiting this year during the Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in St. Louis, MO from 17-19 October and can be found at booth #311.

About Metro Aviation, Incorporated:

Metro Aviation, Inc., based in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States is a worldwide provider of completion services for all missions and types of helicopters and specializes in the EC135 and EC145 with several Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) developed by the company for these and other aircraft.  Metro is an FAA approved repair station, approved Eurocopter Service Center and FAR Part 135 air medical operations provider at several locations across the United States. The company is privately held and is one of the largest traditional air medical providers in the country.