OSF Aviation Fields Four New EC145s

OSF Aviation Fields Four New EC145s

24-Oct-2012 Source: American Eurocopter

OSF Aviation has added four new EC145s to their fleet. The new aircraft were placed into service this summer as part of a fleet replacement program initiated last fall.

OSF Aviation is a part of Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare and provides air medical support services to eight hospitals and their communities throughout OSF HealthCare’s Illinois service areas. The new EC145s replaced the fleet operated for OSF Saint Anthony Lifeline (Rockford, Ill.) and OSF Saint Francis Life Flight (Peoria, Ill.). Currently, this team of physicians, nurses, pilots and mechanics averages 2,200 patient transfers each year, making it the busiest aeromedical operation unit in the State of Illinois.

“We could not be more pleased with our selection of the EC 145,” said OSF Executive Director Brent Grady. “Our fleet of four has been in service since July and greatly improved our patient care and transport capability. We looked at several helicopters for our needs. The 145 offered the best combination of pre-hospital patient care, specialty transport capability, life cycle cost, safety record, and proven manufacturer support. OSF is certain that our investment in Eurocopter products will provide positive returns for the long-term while allowing us to support our growing system transport needs.”

Completed by United Rotorcraft, an Air Methods Division, the EC145s are outfitted with the latest safety equipment, including night-vision goggles, Extended Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Skyconnect Satellite tracking, a Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS), and are fully certified to operate with the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), giving pilots greater flexibility and further enhancing safety. These aircraft are the first WAAS-certified EC145s in service in the USA.

“When we entered the competition at OSF Aviation it was open to anybody,” said American Eurocopter Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing Treg Manning. “They were using competitor aircraft and were very thorough in their procurement research.  When their work was done, they selected the EC145, based not only on its capabilities, but also for having American Eurocopter as a long-term support partner. We are truly appreciative of their efforts and confidence in us.”

 

, , , , , ,

Copyright © 2024 HeliHub

Website by Design Inc

Helihub logo

X