7-Oct-2011Source: CALSTAR
The California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) base in Vacaville, known as CALSTAR 8, marks its 5th anniversary this month. Â Since the base opened in 2006, flight crews have flown approximately 1,400 critically ill and injured patients throughout Solano and surrounding counties. According to Chief Flight Nurse Scott Wallace, approximately two thirds of the calls... Read more
7-Oct-2011Source: US Air Force
Four medics recently graduated at the Kandahar Air Wing from the first Afghan air force Basic Flight Medic course, boosting the Afghan medical response capability. According to medical professionals, the goal of the 40-hour course was to combine ground and flight medical training to produce a better-rounded medical professional. “The course was meant to be... Read more
6-Oct-2011Source: Metro Aviation
Survival Flight conducted an initial review of the EC155 B1 aircraft last week. On the agenda for the configuration team was to approve the final paint layout and review the medical system installation. With the approval of the new paint scheme and the medical system configuration, Metro Aviation, Inc. continues to proceed with an on... Read more
3-Oct-2011Source: HALO-Flight
Driscoll Children’s Hospital and HALO-Flight, Inc. have begun a partnership that will result in an unprecedented level of service for critically ill and injured children of South Texas. Beginning in September, HALO-Flight will dedicate a helicopter exclusively to Driscoll Children’s Hospital. This partnership will significantly reduce the time it takes to transport patients to the... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Multiflight
The third Dauphin helicopter bought from Multiflight by the Great North Air Ambulance Service was officially handed over to the charity at Helitech 2011 today, Wednesday September 28th. Multiflight Managing Director Steve Borrowdale made the official hand over to GNAAS Chief Executive Graham Pickering today at Helitech 2011, the largest dedicated helicopter event in Europe.... Read more
29-Sep-2011Source: Eurocopter
The EC145 T2 evolved version of Eurocopter’s popular twin-engine EC145 – which is making its debut appearance at the annual Helitech helicopter exposition in Duxford – responds to the UK’s demanding emergency services needs. Eurocopter’s evolutionary approach for this enhanced rotary-wing aircraft retains the EC145’s proven technologies – providing a good useful load, extended range,... Read more
26-Sep-2011Source: Charlotte Observer
Insurance company claims that EMS flight was “not medically justified” and passed Omniflight’s $58,477 invoice to the patient – who has a counter-claim on his hands after a neurologist has confirmed in writing that it was an emergency. The figure is made up of $249 per “loaded mile” for the 173 mile trip, plus a... Read more
26-Sep-2011Source: STARS
Join us for the 8th Annual Bragg Creek Benefit Dinner & Auction for STARS on Saturday, October 15, 2011. The evening will include a three-course roast beef dinner catered by locally-owned The Steak Pit Restaurant and a chance to bid on a wide array of live and silent auction items. Tickets are $75 each or... Read more
23-Sep-2011Source: Live 5 News
Lifenet 4, a Eurocopter AS350 registered N103HN, is the newly arrived air ambulance at Colleton Medical Center in South Carolina (full story)... Read more
23-Sep-2011
Children’s Medical Center in Dallas is adding a Sikorsky S76C++Â Â The article about this new helicopter states that it adds to an existing smaller helicopter, but research by the HeliHub.com team finds they currently operate an S76B registration N615D... Read more
22-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Britain’s Yorkshire Air Ambulance has featured in a number of local press stories in recent days. The story focuses on Bagby Airfield in a battle with its neighbours over noise, most stories often omitting to point out that the vast majority of local residients moved in with the airfield already in place, and thus in... Read more
21-Sep-2011
On 7th September, an AW139 was marked on FAA files as being owned by the State of New Jersey – N303YS, serial 41260 from the Pennsylvania production line. Two... Read more
20-Sep-2011Source: CareFusion
CareFusion (NYSE: CFN), a leading global medical technology company, today announced the launch of the ReVel™ ventilator, a new high performance, portable device designed for pediatric to adult (min. 5Kg) patients who require breathing support during transport. The ReVel ventilator is a complementary addition to CareFusion’s Alternate Care portfolio, including emergency and military respiratory care,... Read more
20-Sep-2011Source: Metro Aviation
Metro Aviation delivered a third completed EC135 for the Republic of South Korea today. This third aircraft, delivered ahead of schedule, will join the first two delivered earlier this month for an official viewing by the customer later next week. Operational services of the first EC135 began September 1, 2011. With the delivery of the... Read more
16-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
SCOOP! OSF Life Flight, run by St Francis Medical Center in the Illinois city of Peoria, is set to move from using Bell 230s. Â Currently they fly four of the type, registered N830SF, N840SF, M870SF and N880SF, two registered to OSF Aviation LLC in 2002 and two in 2007. In recent days, four Eurocopter... Read more
16-Sep-2011Source: STARS
Enerplus Corporation, a Canadian independent oil and gas producer, has provided a $300,000 donation to the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) Saskatchewan program. The announcement took place at the Weyburn Golf Club on Thursday, September 15, 2011. Mr. Ian Dundas, Executive Vice-President and COO from Enerplus, presented the donation to Andrea Robertson, President &... Read more
16-Sep-2011Source: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is delighted to announce that its planning application to vary the flight restrictions on the helipad at Queen Alexandra Hospital has been approved. The Trust sought permission from Portsmouth City Council to vary the flight restrictions on the helipad to meet the changing, and future, health needs of patients in Portsmouth... Read more
16-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh is to petition County Executive Joanie Mahoney to get their “Air-1” Bell 407 put back in the county budget for next year. The budget Mahoney presented to the county Legislature on Wednesday assumes that the sheriff will raise all of the money for Air-1 through donations and by charging fees... Read more
16-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The British operator Great Western Air Ambulance Service has confirmed that it will remain at Filton, near Bristol, despite the sale of its current airfield home as it is no longer viable to owners BAE Systems. The Chief Executive of BAE, Ian King, has told GWAA that they will ensure that its home will remain... Read more
13-Sep-2011Source: Chronicle
Police are accusing a teenager of trying to steal a medical helicopter shortly after it landed at Citizens Baptist Medical Center. (See full story)... Read more
13-Sep-2011Source: Interior Health
KAMLOOPS – Premier Christy Clark has announced that dedicated helicopter air ambulance service will begin serving the Central Interior immediately to ensure faster service for critically ill or injured Interior patients, leading to better outcomes. Last summer’s trial period has shown that a dedicated helicopter air ambulance service improves patient care. “Seconds count when dealing... Read more
12-Sep-2011Source: BBC
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was stopped from taking a dying man to hospital after laser pens were shone at the pilot as he tried to land. The man later died on the way to hospital in a road ambulance, although there are no details on the medical state of the patient to know whether or... Read more
12-Sep-2011Source: US Marine Corps
CONSTANTA, Romania — Combat engineers with Black Sea Rotational Force 11 have been in the Black Sea region since April providing community relations projects that help small towns and villages throughout the region. Now, their biggest impression can be seen at the local Constanta County Hospital and Trauma center, where they worked with local contractors to... Read more
9-Sep-2011Source: North West Air Ambulance
The North West Air Ambulance Charity is proud to announce the appointment of Darryl Cooke as their new Chairman of the board. Darryl has been involved with the North West Air Ambulance Charity for over 3 years and is a strong advocate of all its functions. As chairman of the board he will be responsible... Read more
8-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Devon and Cornwall Police, together with Devon Air Ambulance, are to move their joint base to Exeter Airport. Currently based on the Police HQ at Middlemoor, only a couple of miles away, the change of location is expected to bring the Police a windfall of millions of pounds through the redevelopment of the current site.... Read more
8-Sep-2011Source: Ornge
On its 6:00 p.m. broadcast on September 6th, 2011, CTV Toronto aired a story with respect to Ornge’s service in Ontario. The story not only contained outdated and incorrect information but also omitted essential facts and was misleading. Ornge has notified CTV of these errors and has asked for a full apology from the network.... Read more
7-Sep-2011Source: STARS
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) is pleased to announce that CEO Rescue in the Rockies for STARS raised the single largest dollar amount ever in one day for STARS with a record-breaking $1.3 million. STARS partnered with five prominent Calgary-based CEOs and dropped them in Kananaskis Country, 25 kilometres northeast of Canmore, just... Read more
5-Sep-2011Source: Pratt & Whitney Canada
Pratt & Whitney Canada Customer Service Centre Europe GmbH (CSC Europe) signed a 13-year Fleet Management Program (FMP®) agreement with DRF Luftrettung of Germany for comprehensive maintenance support of its PW206B2 engines. This long-term FMP®agreement with CSC Europe provides DRF Luftrettung with expanded coverage until 2024. CSC Europe is a joint-venture between Pratt & Whitney... Read more
2-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com has heard that one or more of the current Doctor Heli fleet have become contaminated by radioactive material as a result of flying too close to the Fukushima nuclear plant which had the devastating failure resulting from March’s tsunami. After being passed as fit-to-fly by the authorities, Doctor Heli (or possibly one of their... Read more
31-Aug-2011Source: Spectrum Aeromed
Over the past three years, Spectrum Aeromed has grown revenue by 799.3 percent to earn the position of 433 on the 2011 Inc. 500 list, Inc. Magazine’s annual ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The company realized revenue of $7.9 million in 2010. They have 20 full-time employees with headquarters in Fargo and client... Read more
30-Aug-2011Source: Ministry Health Care
Leaders at Howard Young Medical Center (HYMC) have announced the new helicopter pad on the medical campus in Woodruff is complete. The announcement caps months of work and is part of the ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance the care provided to area patients. The new helipad is located adjacent to the Emergency Department. The... Read more
29-Aug-2011Source: STV
The helipad has been branded “almost useless” after it was revealed two-thirds of emergency flights are unable to land there. The National Health Service said that locating the pad to the rear of the hospital was the only option open at the time of construction, and they are planning a replacement which could be available... Read more
27-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Japan’s Doctor Heli organisation currently flies a fleet of 15 Eurocopter EC135s and 5 MD Explorers on EMS work across Japan. The EC135s are operated for them by Aero Hirata, and the Explorers by Aero Asahi. Doctor Heli is on the point of adding a third type – the AgustaWestland AW109. There have at least... Read more
26-Aug-2011Source: Sunday Business Post
Irish Health Minister Dr James Reilly let slip in a recent Q&A session after a speech at McGill Summer School that the government is in discussions with a helicopter provider, according to this article in the Sunday Business Post... Read more
26-Aug-2011Source: Houston Chronicle
Life Flight was created 35 years ago this month, the brainchild of Dr. James “Red” Duke (who is still Life Flight’s medical director) and the late Lester “Whitey” Martin, former Houston Fire Department deputy chief and a champion of HFD’s early EMS services. (full story)... Read more
26-Aug-2011
A Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAA) employee has said relocating from an airfield that is due to close will have a “substantial impact” on services. The service is based at Filton airport near Bristol, which is to close from the end of 2012 following a review of its commercial and economic viability. (see story)... Read more
26-Aug-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
Marion, IL – Todd Test, flight paramedic for the Marion, Ill. Air Evac Lifeteam base, has been honored with the company’s 2011 Region 1 Flight Paramedic of the Year award. Test’s region consists of Air Evac Lifeteam bases in Illinois, Missouri and Indiana. The Flight Paramedic of the Year is presented to the paramedic who... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: WCSC
Following their announcement of the contract with MUSC, Med-Trans have recently started operations of a new EC135P2+, registration N452MT and Eurocopter serial 0974 out of Charleston. A profile of the new operation can be found here... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
A Collier County EMS pilot suspended in July for leaving his running helicopter has won his appeal. Mark Holmes was suspended without pay July 28 and ordered to complete a safety course and pass a test before returning to work, which he immediately passed. The suspension involved an incident on July 14, when Holmes was... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: HeilHub.com
The Rio Grande Valley’s longest-running helicopter ambulance will be permanently grounded this autumn, thanks to Texas state budget cuts. The South Texas Emergency Care Foundation has operated Valley AirCare since 1995, but operating their AS350B2 in recent years has been an increasing challenge as cost reimbursements continued a downward slide and fuel prices soared. With... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Courier Gazette
Profile article on the PHI Air Medical base at McKinney TX is featured here. The base operates a Eurocopter EC135P2+, registered N325PH... Read more
24-Aug-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
The Evansville, Ind. Air Evac Lifeteam base has been selected as the company’s 2011 Region 1 Base of the Year. Region 1 consists of Air Evac Lifeteam bases in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. The Base of the Year Award is presented to the base in the Air Evac Lifeteam system that best exemplifies the... Read more
23-Aug-2011
The new EC145 boasts several new state-of-the-art features, including NVG capability, several global positioning units, terrain avoidance technology, onboard weather systems and a glass cockpit that Sgt. John Ratliff said was the “latest and best technology.â€Â (Full story) The particular aircraft is registered N39VA, serial 9384. File photo... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: United Rotorcraft Solutions
nited Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) recently refurbished two Eurocopter EC135s for Air Methods Corporation. The renovation included a complete re-upholster of the interior, sanding, repairing and repainting the exterior and performing major maintenance inspections and clearing of discrepancies. The work on both helicopters was completed on schedule. “Performing the inspections and clearing all discrepancies is important... Read more
22-Aug-2011Source: NEMSPA
Join the over 1,200 helicopter pilots who have already taken the NEMSPA Nationwide Heliport Survey and make your opinion known. By taking this survey you will be providing the FAA and the industry with your first-hand input regarding the heliport infrastructure in the United States. The information gathered will be used to help write the next version of... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has awarded its new contract for maintenance of their helicopters to Yorkshire based aviation management company, Multiflight. The contract, which will commence on 20th August, will see Multiflight take control of all the maintenance of the two MD902 Explorer helicopters the YAA operate. Ironically, the YAA has been based on Multiflight’s... Read more
21-Aug-2011Source: San Juan Regional Medical Center
Four Corners residents might have noticed an unfamiliar sound and object in the air as San Juan Regional Medical Center’s new Bell 429 air ambulance landed at the hospital over the past weekend and its pilots began training flights. The Bell 429 AirCare helicopter replaces the hospital’s previous Bell 222 model, which was leased for... Read more
18-Aug-2011Source: London’s Air Ambulance
Dr. David Lockey, London’s Air Ambulance Consultant & Trustee and Research & Development lead, was made Honorary Professor of Trauma and Prehospital Emergency Medicine by the University of Bristol. This is believed to be the only Professorial appointment in the UK in the new medical speciality of Prehospital Emergency Medicine. The General Medical Council have... Read more
17-Aug-2011Source: London's Air Ambulance
We were delighted to host a visit for His Excellency, Kim Traavik, The Norwegian Ambassador for London, in July. He was joined by Steinar Sørlie, General Secretary of the Norwegian Air Ambulance and former Minister, and Professor Hans Morten Lossius, Research and Development Director of the Norwegian Air Ambulance. The visit was arranged to hear... Read more
17-Aug-2011Source: Daisychain Benevolent Fund
Some of the staff and volunteers from the Worcester and Malvern shops went to the Midlands Air Ambulance valuation day to present a cheque for over £97,000. Henry Sandon was present at the event and even valued some of the more unusual donations that had been kindly donated. We also got to see a real... Read more
11-Aug-2011Source: WLWT
The helicopters will still be able to fly to airports and hospital helipads in the dark, flights that do not require NVG use. (full story) University Air Care operates BK117s from two bases in Ohio... Read more
11-Aug-2011Source: Geisinger
DANVILLE, Pa. – Geisinger’s Life Flight® 2 will open its doors to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at its 2703 Fox Hill Road, State College base. This open house is in recognition of Life Flight’s 30 years of service. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the Life Flight staff,... Read more
10-Aug-2011Source: Portsmouth Daily Times
Air Evac Lifeteam Senior Director of Base Operations Andy Arthurs said the decision to change the Life Air name to Air Evac Lifeteam was a move to make operations more efficient and create a unified, larger and more cohesive team in Ohio. (Full story)... Read more
10-Aug-2011Source: Avera McKennan
The Careflight air transport program at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center is celebrating its 25th year in service. In honor of the occasion, Aug. 12 has been proclaimed “Careflight Day†in South Dakota by Gov. Dennis Daugaard. Francie Miller, assistant vice president for Emergency Services at Avera McKennan, was instrumental in developing the... Read more
9-Aug-2011
The long held ambition will soon be realised after Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) agreed last week to relinquish its sole trusteeship of the appeal. GWAS had been criticised by air ambulance campaigners for being the sole trustee of the appeal. (Full story)... Read more
8-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
East Anglian Air Ambulance “EAAA” have had a rough time in recent months, starting with their previous vendor Sterling Helicopters losing their operating certificate after internal procedural irregularities (see story). Sterling owned and operated the two Eurocopter BK117s that EAAA used, and thus the air ambulancd charity without a ride. Within a couple of weeks,... Read more
4-Aug-2011Source: PHi
PHI, Inc. (The Nasdaq Global Market: PHII (voting) PHIIK (non-voting)) today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Oil and Gas segment revenues were $90.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, compared to $94.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, a decrease of $4.5 million. Flight... Read more
4-Aug-2011
Lucas County Port Authority directors approved leasing a Toledo Express Airport hangar to ProMedica to house its air-ambulance helicopters despite an objection from an airport business that maintains that it — and not the port authority — owns the hangar. (Full story)... Read more
3-Aug-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Waypoint AirMed & Rescue conference, airshow and exhibition that was due to take place in September has been rescheduled to May 2012. The venue remains unchanged as London Oxford Airport, UK. The official line from Ian Cameron, event chairman and Waypoint magazine editor-in-chief, is: “We want the event to be the best we can... Read more
2-Aug-2011Source: Spectrum Aeromed
Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah recently received the first of five Grand New helicopters with a US-certified emergency medical service interior designed by Spectrum Aeromed. Spectrum Aeromed created a customized EMS interior for Intermountain’s Grand New helicopter that features a state-of-the-art single-patient stretcher platform, a secondary foldable and stowable patient stretcher, as well... Read more
2-Aug-2011Source: Air Methods
Air Methods Corporation, the largest air medical transportation company in the world, announced today that it has successfully completed its acquisition of OF Air Holdings Corporation and its subsidiaries, including Omniflight Helicopters, Inc. (together, Omniflight). Omniflight provides air medical transport services throughout the United States and provides these services under both the community-based and hospital-based... Read more
2-Aug-2011
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust is applying to the city council to scrap the current 8am to 6pm landing restrictions on the helipad at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham. The council, which imposed the restrictions when granting permission for the helipad to be built in 2007, will make the ultimate decision. (Full story).... Read more
29-Jul-2011Source: Sentara Healthcare
David Banty, 76, of Capron, Virginia in Southampton County has flown as a patient on the Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance, twice. The first time was in August of 1982, just seven months after the program’s inception, when he nearly drowned on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Last March, he suffered a heart attack at... Read more
28-Jul-2011Source: Erlanger Health System
Erlanger Health System’s air medical program, LIFE FORCE, has received a three-year accreditation for achieving high priority in patient care and safety from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). As of July 15, 148 accredited medical services are through CAMTS. LIFE FORCE is one of three air medical services in Tennessee that... Read more
28-Jul-2011Source: Naples News
A Collier County Medflight pilot accused of standing outside his running helicopter last week was placed on administrative leave Friday, a month after he won $70,000 in a whistleblower and retaliation lawsuit against the county. (Full story)... Read more
27-Jul-2011Source: Northwest MedStar
Northwest MedStar, the region’s critical emergency care transport service, has expanded its Moses Lake day-base operations to a full-time helicopter base, providing additional coverage for critically-ill and injured patients in the north central Washington region. “The North Central region has been a long-time, loyal supporter of Northwest MedStar,†said Eveline Bisson, program director of Northwest... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: HeliHub.com
At the Air Medical Transport Conference in Ft. Lauderdale last October, Bell announced that Air Evac Lifeteam had placed an order for sixteen Bell LongRanger IV helicopters. HeliHub.com has heard that one of these has been allocated to their base at Woodward in Oklahoma, whch opened in May 2007, and went live on 1st July. ... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: Air Evac Lifeteam
Air Evac Lifeteam announced they will be opening an air ambulance base in McAllen, Texas, this fall. The base, scheduled to begin operations in October, will be located on the campus of McAllen Medical Center, but will serve all hospitals and communities within a 70-mile radius. Air Evac Lifeteam, the largest independently owned air medical... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: London's Air Ambulance
London’s Air Ambulance pilot, Captain Neil Jeffers, and doctor, Dr. Tom Konig, are soon to complete the ultimate endurance test, seeing them run 8 marathons in 6 days through the deserts of Jordan, in a bid to raise money for the charity. On 3rd September 2011 the London’s Air Ambulance duo will be running 200... Read more
25-Jul-2011Source: Aersolution
Aersolution GmbH, founded 2006 as an aircraft engineering service supplier, has extended its product range to entire EMS interiors for rotary and fixed wing aircraft. For several years, Aersolution has designed high end modifications for medium and large body VIP fixed wing aircrafts. In parallel, Aersolution developed complex interior components for Emergency Medical Service operators... Read more
24-Jul-2011Source: Norwich Bulletin
Hartford Hospital officials have renewed their commitment to keeping the Life Star program at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT (Full story)... Read more
22-Jul-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) has signed a preliminary sale contract for two AW169 helicopters. The contract was signed today by Andy Williamson, CEO, WNAA and Bruno Spagnolini, CEO, AgustaWestland, during a ceremony at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in the presence of the Rt Hon... Read more
21-Jul-2011Source: Wysong Enterprises
Wysong Enterprises, Inc., (Wysong) announced today that they delivered the second of four Bell 407 EMS Helicopters to Med-Trans Corporation. The completion work included a custom paint scheme, complete avionics system, airframe kits, and numerous safety systems as well as a complete emergency medical interior. “We have completed numerous aircraft for Med-Trans Corporation and the... Read more
21-Jul-2011Source: Air Methods
Air Methods Corporation, the largest air medical transportation company in the world, provided an update on second quarter 2011 preliminary results, as well as a status update on pending acquisition of OF Air Holdings and its subsidiaries (together, Omniflight). Based on preliminary 2011 second quarter results, total community-based patient transports were 10,319. Patients transported for... Read more
20-Jul-2011Source: Eurocopter
Eurocopter today delivered the 1,000th EC135 to its new owner. Fifteen years after the first of these helicopters rolled off the production line at the Eurocopter plant in Donauwörth, the group’s President and CEO Lutz Bertling handed the keys of the new aircraft on this landmark occasion to Peter Meyer, the President of ADAC, Germany’s... Read more