Alex Skaalen, base manager for Valley Med Flight is enthusiastic as building plans for their new hangar move swiftly. Routine maintenance tests were done on the Valley Med Flight’s helicopter this Monday near CHI St. Alexius Health Devils Lake Hospital. Not only a base manager, but a flight paramedic too, Skaalen is proud that their chopper can deal with the same emergency cases one would find in a trauma unit of a hospital.

The new hangar will include living quarters for the crews, which Skaalen is sure will cut response time measurably in the future. The hangar is hoped to be completed in June 2017, reports Devils Lake Journal.