Northwest MedStar owns a mixed fleet of four fixed wing and seven rotor wing aircraft, and recently replaced one of its helicopters with a new Airbus H135 (EC135) completed by Metro Aviation in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Metro also operates all 11 aircraft for Northwest MedStar and has since August of 1994.

“MedStar took delivery of its fourth replacement helicopter, and as usual Metro delivered this aircraft on time with the completion work done as expected,” said Northwest MedStar Director Eveline Bisson.  “Metro always meets our expectations.”

The new aircraft includes the same advanced flight and medical features of others in the fleet, but is the first Northwest MedStar helicopter with the Garmin GTN 750 system.  The most noticeable difference is the touch screen display, but the equipment also incorporates a digital audio system, digital standby instrument system and both standard color weather radar and satellite radar options.  The system also includes Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B), both in and out, which meets the FAA requirement for ADS-B equipment to be installed by 2020.

Metro Aviation became the first to STC the equipment for Single Pilot IFR (SPIFR) in the fourth quarter of 2014. Northwest MedStar’s new aircraft is also fully compliant with the new FAA Part 135 Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) requirements.