24-Jan-2011Source: DRF
In 2010 the air rescue organisation DRF Luftrettung flew a total of 36,900 rescue missions, involving helicopter missions at 31 HEMS bases in Germany, Austria and Denmark as well as worldwide repatriations with its ambulance aircraft. In Germany alone the crews were alerted to 33,861 missions, meaning a rise of 10 % compared to 2007... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: AirMed International
Award-winning air ambulance company, AirMed International (airmed.com), has announced the creation of WeatherTurndown.com, a new website for use by all air medical transport programs, including rotor and fixed-wing. Weatherturndown.com is a free service allowing medical transport programs to share current information regarding delays or cancellations due to weather. The term “weather turndown” has long been... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that a contract has been signed with Rega, the Swiss SAR and EMS provider, for the supply of a state-of-the-art advanced simulator to meet the training requirements for Rega’s new fleet of Da Vinci and GrandNew light twin helicopters. The simulator, designed and produced by AgustaWestland in... Read more
23-Jan-2011
United Rotorcraft Solutions (URS) delivered a completed Eurocopter AS350B3 to Hospital Wing of Memphis, TX on Friday January 14, 2011. The AS350B3 helicopter was customized for air medical operations. The avionics and communications integration included a Garmin GNS 530AW, Garmin GNS430AW NAV/Comm/GPS, GTX330 Transponder, the GEA-43 Encoder, Honeywell Radar Altimeter along with the Technisonic TFM500... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: Peterborough Examiner
The City of Kawartha Lakes is planning to make a case to the province that moving the air ambulance ORNGE from Toronto Island to Hamilton makes no geographic sense. Earlier this week, he had suggested that putting the service in Peterborough or Oshawa made much more sense.... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: Winnipeg Free Press
Rod Gantefoer, the provincial member of the legislature who is in charge of getting the STARS program going, says it won’t be up and running until the fall of 2012.... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: BBC
Paul Weir, chief executive of the Great Western Air Ambulance, said the service was just breaking even at the moment, but that could change if the price of fuel continues to rise. They operate a Eurocopter Bo105... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: Air Ambulance Ireland
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20-Jan-2011Source: Police Aviation News
This spring the local governments of three prefectures in the northern Kanto region – Tochigi, Gunma and Ibaraki – will jointly operate their ambulance helicopters beyond their prefectural borders in what is claimed to be the first mutual assistance operation of ambulance helicopters in Japan. Similar joint operations also are planned in the Kansai region,... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: Air Ambulance Ireland
Martin Mulleady is a director of a building firm and a member of Longford County Council, chairing its Strategic Policy Committee for “Economic, Urban and Rural Development, Cultural and Recreational Policiesâ€. He is also chairperson of Drumlish Community Association, a former Chairperson of its Tidy Towns Association and a director of the Longford Joint Policing... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: Spectrum Aeromed
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LAFD) Air Operations Section contracted Spectrum Aeromed to design, engineer and install a custom carry-on medical device stand for their Agusta Westland 139 multi-mission helicopters. The Spectrum Aeromed design and engineering team collaborated with the LAFD’s special missions staff to get a better understanding of how this proposed unit was... Read more
18-Jan-2011Source: ShandsCair
The ShandsCair helicopter flight team is enhancing its night vision. The team completes Federal Aviation Administration training next week and will become Florida’s fifth emergency medical services helicopter program certified to use night vision goggles. ShandsCair is the critical care transport system for Shands at the University of Florida and provided 1,883 ground and air... Read more
18-Jan-2011Source: STARS
Teck Resources’ logo was unveiled today on a STARS helicopter in recognition of Teck reaching a $500,000 donation milestone. Boyd Payne, Teck’s Senior Vice President, Coal, and Dr. Greg Powell, STARS President and CEO, took part in the event alongside STARS crew members. “Teck is proud to support STARS in its mission to provide critical... Read more
17-Jan-2011Source: Med-Trans
Med-Trans Corporation has reached a mutual commitment with Mercy Medical Center North Iowa to become their new aviation partner for their helicopter ems program located in Mason City. Both parties recently completed the terms of a formal contract after nearly a 12-month process of selection during which the hospital focused on safety, experience and quality... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: AAMS
The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) has officially filed its comments with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), “Air Ambulance and Commercial Helicopter Operations, Part 91 Helicopter Operations, and Part 135 Aircraft Operations; Safety Initiatives and Miscellaneous Amendments.†Summary of Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM),Docket... Read more
14-Jan-2011Source: Tennesseean
Swindle said the landing pad has come together as a community project, with support from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which has offered a windsock and specifications needed for their LifeFlight helicopters... Read more
14-Jan-2011Source: STARS
The 18th annual STARS Lottery officially launches today with 3,200 prizes worth over $5.1 million. The STARS Lottery is the single largest source of funding to keep STARS in the sky. “Last year’s STARS Lottery sold out generating over $10 million,†says Dr. Greg Powell, President and CEO of STARS. “Every individual who purchases a... Read more
14-Jan-2011Source: Medical Independent
Priscilla Lynch investigates why Ireland is the only EU country that lacks a dedicated air ambulance service... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: NEMSPA
The National EMS Pilots Association has submitted a 22-page position paper on the FAA Notice of Proposed Rule Making pertaining to helicopter air ambulance operations. January 10 was the deadline for the public submission of comments on the proposed changes to FAR Part 135. The new rules, if implemented as proposed without modification, will be... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: American Eurocopter
Grand Prairie, TX – Today, American Eurocopter announced that STAT MedEvac has ordered five more twin-engine helicopters. The order consists of three EC135 helicopters and two EC145 helicopters and is part of an ongoing strategy at STAT to continually upgrade its fleet with the latest aircraft and the newest technology. The aircraft are scheduled to... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: Med-Trans
(DALLAS, TX – SIOUX CITY, IA): Mercy Medical Center – Sioux City has finalized an agreement with Med-Trans Corp. for them to become their new aviation partner for their regional helicopter ambulance service located in Sioux City, Iowa. Terms were reached after nearly a 12-month selection process, looking at significant factors such as customization of... Read more
12-Jan-2011Source: Ornge
The Ornge Foundation is pleased to receive a donation of over $343,000 from Pilatus, the world’s leading manufacturer of single-engine turboprop aircraft. This generous donation will be used in Ornge’s Academy of Transport Medicine (ATM) to support the simulation program. The ATM was established in 2007 and provides paramedical education programs based on an innovative... Read more
11-Jan-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace are pleased to announce that Saitama Prefecture of Japan has placed an order for an AW139 medium twin helicopter. This aircraft will be operated by the Fire Fighting and Disaster Relief Department to perform fire fighting, emergency medical service, air rescue and transport missions. The helicopter will... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Cornwall Air Ambulance
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is to have a prominent new role in the county as Patron of one of its vital emergency services. The Duchess will begin her new role as the figurehead of Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust (CAAT) this month. As the charity’s first official Patron, Her Royal Highness will lend her support... Read more
10-Jan-2011
As part of a $5 million project, the upgrading of the hospital in the Polish city of Nysa will included an elevated helipad. It is planned to be ready in April 2011... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Omniflight
As a way of showing gratitude to the men and women of the military who keep America safe, Omniflight Helicopters, Inc., a leading national provider of air medical services, is offering active duty military members and veterans free membership in the OmniAdvantage program nationwide. The free membership extends to the families (spouses and legal dependents) of the... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: ANWB
Dutch Government has announced that EMS helicopters “Lifeliner 1” at University Medical Centre in Amsterdam and “Lifeliner Europe 4” at the UMCG in Groningen are not allowed to operate at night as planned. The bases of both have been specially upgraded for night operations planned to start on 1st April 2011... Read more
10-Jan-2011
The new airborne emergency medical service is a joint effort by HealthNet Aeromedical Services, West Virginia University Hospitals, WVUH-East and Air Methods. The EC130 is based at Eastern Regional Airport... Read more
10-Jan-2011Source: Cleveland.com
Many residents in attendance at recent meeting urged the hospital to consider Medina Municipal Airport as a possible stationing ground for the helicopter... Read more
6-Jan-2011
Indian operator OSS Air Management is acquiring two AW109s to provide an air ambulance service in Bangalore by the middle of 2011... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: Air Methods
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the largest air medical transportation company in the world, recently was informed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that it successfully exited Level 2 status in the FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) pilot program. Air Methods is the only helicopter air medical operator to have exited Level 1 and Level 2... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: Becker Avionics
Becker Avionics’ DVCS6100 Digital Audio System has been selected by Lee County MEDSTAR for integration into their recently acquired Bell 430 twin-engine helicopter. The aircraft is currently undergoing completion at Sarasota Avionics and will be specifically tailored to their needs. The DVCS6100 was chosen due to its unique ability to effectively manage and control all... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: US Army
Iraqis with the Iraqi Emergency Security Unit completed emergency medical technician training, Dec. 28, after five weeks of coursework with U.S. Army medics. Provided by the “Thunderhorse” medics of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, the training began in late November. Instruction was provided to Iraqi Police, the Emergency Security Unit and... Read more
6-Jan-2011
ADAC have taken over the running of Germany rescue helicopter “Christoph 18” at Ochsenfurt for the next five years using an EC135, after winning a tender. The previous operator was DRF... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Frimley Park Hospital in the UK county of Surrey has given the go-ahead to a £20M project to build a new Accident & Emergency department including a roof-top helipad. When completed, this facility will avoid the delays associated with the current arrangement where air ambulances have to land at Kings International College and complete the... Read more
6-Jan-2011Source: KCSG
Intermountain Life Flight will begin providing helicopter service for medical transport in southern Utah starting January 14th... Read more
5-Jan-2011Source: Torres News
The 620-square metre aeromedical helipad, ringed with two-metre safety nets, will be used by Australian Helicopters’ quick response teams to transport patients to the Thursday Island Hospital through its medical and SAR operations.... Read more
5-Jan-2011Source: OAMTC
[electronic translation from original German press release] Future of the Air Ambulance in Austria for the time being secured “The operational activities of emergency medical helicopter ÖAMTC has increased again in 2010,” said Reinhard Kraxner, managing director of ÖAMTC air ambulance. “Overall, our 16 helicopters flew 14 816 operations, which are 886 more than in... Read more
5-Jan-2011Source: Native Air
Native Air, a division of Omniflight Helicopters, a leading national provider of air medical services, today introduced a membership program, OmniAdvantage, making medical transport available to members and their families for a fraction of its actual cost. Native Air operates more than 20 bases in Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas, using helicopters and fixed-wing... Read more
4-Jan-2011
San Antonio AirLIFE’s board of directors named Shawn Salter as its new president and CEO, effective Jan. 1.... Read more
4-Jan-2011Source: Heli Invest
Just before Christmas at the service center of Heli Invest in Warsaw Eurocopter delivered the Polish Medical Air Rescue, or Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe (LPR), the last two EC 135P2i helicopters out of total of 23 ordered under a contract with the Ministry of Health. Heli Invest – as a sole authorized distributor of Eurocopter helicopters... Read more
23-Dec-2010Source: NUPGE
In October, Local 505 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) filed a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) alleging discrimination, intimidation and targeting of union activists at Ornge, formerly Ontario Air Ambulance. “We are pleased to announce that the complaint has now been withdrawn by the union prior to a formal... Read more
23-Dec-2010Source: DRF Luftrettung
Preparation for the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), at the Regensburg HEMS base of HDM Luftrettung is gaining pace: The helicopter of type EC 145 completed multi-day tests conducted by Eurocopter, the helicopter manufacturer, on NVG capability last week. Pilot training goes along with it. In April 2011, the regular NVG operation will start... Read more
23-Dec-2010Source: American Eurocopter
Grand Prairie, Texas – American Eurocopter is pleased to announce the delivery of a new, state-of-the-art EC145 to Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance, the air medical transport service for Sentara Healthcare, Norfolk, Virginia. The aircraft will be based at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital (Virginia), the only Level One Trauma Center in the area. The EC145’s combination... Read more
23-Dec-2010Source: TVACAA
Thanks to the generosity of its supporters the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance (TVACAA), which serves Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire (BOB), was able to fly an extended 12 hour day for the period 5 July 2010 to 22 November 2010 and will continue to run a 10 hour day during the winter months. The... Read more
22-Dec-2010Source: Sacramento Bee
California Shock Trauma Air Rescue on Wednesday began providing emergency helicopter transport service to the Sacramento Valley from its headquarters at McClellan Park.... Read more
22-Dec-2010Source: HAI
Although this long-awaited Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was billed as a regulatory initiative aimed at helicopter air medical operations, it goes well beyond that. It would affect other Part 135 operations, all commercial helicopter operations, and even Part 91 operations. HAI has been receiving considerable feedback from air medical operators and working closely with... Read more
21-Dec-2010
MISSISSAUGA (Dec. 20) – Ornge, a world leader in transport medicine, reached a major milestone in its five year history today, as the organization transported its 100,000th patient. All aspects of air ambulance services were divested by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in January 2006 and since became Ornge. Ornge, a not-for-profit organization,... Read more
20-Dec-2010Source: ABC
Planning Minister Matthew Guy says the Government has amended the Glenelg Shire planning scheme to allow the plans to go ahead.... Read more
20-Dec-2010Source: BBC
A group of youths stopped an airborne ambulance crew from landing at an emergency call in Swansea by pelting the helicopter with snowballs.... Read more
20-Dec-2010Source: Eurocopter
Poland’s public air medical rescue operator LPR (Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe) has received its final two EC135 helicopters from the 23 acquired by the Polish Ministry of Health, which are being used to modernize the country’s nationwide emergency medical services (EMS) network. This on-time delivery for the concluding two EC135s followed their technical acceptance at Eurocopter’s... Read more
20-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
On Friday 17th December, the Fire Department in Brazil’s state of Goias took delivery of the first of three AgustaWestland AW119Ke helicopters bought by the state. Lieutenant Colonel Múcio Santos Ferreira of the Fire Department said that the cost 7 million Brazilian Reals – approximatly US$4 million. The aircraft has the capacity to be used... Read more
17-Dec-2010Source: Saab
Saab has signed an eight-year agreement with Scandinavian Air Ambulance Holding AB.This means, from the start of next year, Saab will take over responsibility for the Group’s technical and maintenance personnel and operations for their helicopters and aircraft. Saab also invests MSEK 25 in Scandinavian Air Ambulance convertibles. Through the agreement, Saab takes the responsibility... Read more
14-Dec-2010Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
In response to media coverage suggesting that there may be no air ambulance service in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire by Christmas, the East Anglian Air Ambulance has moved to reassure the public that its enhanced service has in fact now been launched and will be ready to help those caught up in medical emergencies and accidents... Read more
13-Dec-2010Source: Nordic Rotors
The air ambulance company Scandinavian MediCopter started its EMS operations in Gällivare on 1st December. It took off on its first medical call at 17:02. The company will operate a Eurocopter AS 365 N3 Dauphin (SE-JIA) from the base at Vassaraträsk, near the town center. The previous operator, Norrlandsflyg AB, is now leaving Gällivare –... Read more
12-Dec-2010Source: UT Lifestar
Representatives of UT LIFESTAR dedicated the newly constructed Sevier County base of operations during a partnership luncheon celebration at the base, located at the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge airport in Sevierville. The Sevier County base continues to be the most heavily utilized of the five bases of operation for UT LIFESTAR, the air medical transport service of The... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: NEMSPA
The National EMS Pilots Association is gathering feedback from helicopter EMS pilots on proposed regulations that may become the most far-reaching rules to date for the Air Medical industry. The survey is for active EMS helicopter pilots only. The FAA Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that addresses the safety of commercial helicopter operations is... Read more
9-Dec-2010Source: Keystone Med-Flight
Keystone announced today that it has signed a distribution and license agreement with the mobile health care communication firm mVisum, Inc. This agreement authorizes Keystone to distribute and sell mVisum’s unique medical data transmission system for use on medically configured aircraft. mVisum’s technology provides the ability to send, review, and respond to diagnostic quality medical... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Swiss Air Ambulance, known locally as Rega, has now upgraded all their mountain bases to the AgustaWestland Da Vinci, based on AW109SP model – the last two bases to upgrade were at Zweisimmen and Mollis. The crew of the helicopter base at Zweisimmen upgraded to an AW109SP Da Vinci last Saturday with a patient transfer... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: Sloane Helicopters
[HeliHub.com has already provided links to a press report on this operation. This press release provides a lot more detail than the press report] Sloane Helicopters Limited is pleased to announce the entry into service of the UK’s first Agusta EMS Grand, G-HEMZ, with the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, one of the busiest... Read more
8-Dec-2010Source: East Anglian Air Ambulance
The East Anglian Air Ambulance has moved its Western operational base to Cambridge Airport as it launches an enhanced and more sustainable service which it believes will help save more lives across Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The charity has worked closely with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) in developing the new service... Read more
7-Dec-2010Source: Sloane Helicopters
Sloane Helicopters is pleased to announce that it is providing one A109 Power EMS to Magpas, the Emergency Medical Charity, for the Magpas Helimedix to fill in an operational gap into the Air Ambulance services operating from RAF Wyton. The aircraft is equipped with the standard EMS factory fit and with customised oxygen and radio... Read more
6-Dec-2010Source: Channel 4
DLRAA has upgraded from a 109E Power to a brand new 109S Grand... Read more
6-Dec-2010Source: Leader Telegram
A backup helipad is planned for the Mayo One air ambulance at Luther Midelfort’s Eau Claire campus. The Eau Claire Plan Commission will discuss a proposal Monday... Read more
6-Dec-2010Source: Cape May County Herald
The new MedEvac EC135 is a joint venture between Cooper University Trauma Center and Atlantic Air Ambulance. The helicopter is based at the Millville Municipal Airport... Read more
6-Dec-2010Source: Winnipeg Free Press
This is a repeat of when an Alberta-based STARS helicopter air ambulance was stationed in southern Manitoba during the last serious spring flood in 2009, and it was credited with saving two lives... Read more
1-Dec-2010Source: HeliHub.com
Cornwall Air Ambulance has won planning permission for a new operational base on the boundary of Newquay Cornwall Airport. The location is currently just outside the airport’s security fence, but the plans call for a fence move to ensure the new helipad continues to be airside. Positioned just south of the “piano keys” of Runway... Read more
1-Dec-2010Source: The Sun Daily
The plan is expected to be fully implemented by 2015. Under the plan, the helicopters are expected to be distributed and given jurisdiction over the northern, central and southern zones.... Read more
29-Nov-2010Source: HeliHub.com
This past Thursday, Cornwall Air Ambulance have recorded their 22,000th mission in their 23 years of operation, airlifting a 30 year old woman from Penzance to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. Cornwall Air Ambulance flies a Eurocopter EC135T2 covering a county of nearly 1,400 square miles and a population approaching 550,000. Jutting out to... Read more
29-Nov-2010Source: Herald Journal
The incident spurred an investigation by USU police after the flight crew reported seeing the light originate somewhere near the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Oct. 3.... Read more
29-Nov-2010Source: NZ Herald
The Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, which administers the service, is extending its operations, with one of the Westpac choppers to be based in Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula from December 26 to Anniversary Weekend at the end of January... Read more
29-Nov-2010Source: Clic RBS
500 calls, 334 flight hours and 414 victims assisted. These are the numbers of Battalion Operations Firefighters of Santa Catarina using a helicopter Archangel, from January to November this year.... Read more
28-Nov-2010Source: Native Air
Native Air, a division of Omniflight Helicopters, a leading national provider of air medical services, has donated more than $15,000 to River Cities United Way. The donation, part of Native Air’s Flight for a Cause fund-raising program, supports local charities and community organizations within the communities it serves. The donation was based on the number... Read more
