LVHN MedEvac 1 N# change

March 20, 2024 | LVHN MedEvac | Allentown, Pennsylvania

Earlier this week, the LVHN MedEvac 1 primary aircraft returned to service sporting a new registration, The change from N241AM back to the well known N811LV has been anticipated since the summer of 2023 when MedEvac 1 transitioned from an EC130 to the EC135.

This 2007 EC135 P2+ (SN 0573) entered service as MedEvac 1 in May, 2023. Base location is Kutztown, Pennsylvania.

Photo from the LVHN MedEvac Facebook Feed.

N911PX to Tampa General AeroMed

February 19, 2024| KAGC Pittsburgh, PA

N911PX, previously in service with Promedica in Ohio, is now sporting a new livery and will be heading to Florida to join Tampa General Hospital AeroMed. Operated by Metro Aviation, N911PX is shown here on February 19th at KAGC in Pittsburgh, PA going through some test flights. 

Photo from Matt Skelton.

LifeNet 7-14 (NY) Relocates to Westernville, NY

February 28, 2024 | Air Methods Press Release | Westernville, New York

LifeNet 7-14 announced its official relocation from its sister location in Watertown, NY to Westernville, NY—where life-saving service continues to the Mohawk Valley region and beyond. The LifeNet team partnered with the Town of Western and the Fire Company to break ground on the new location in October 2023. The newly built helicopter pad, hangar, and living quarters for the flight crew are adjacent to the Fire Company.

Without skipping a beat in service, the relocation to Westernville marks LifeNet 7-14’s permanent base location.

“Final operational preparations and move to our new home went very well,” said LifeNet of New York Account Executive Colleen Gleeson. “We are excited to be home, and we look forward to continuing to serve the region and be a critical resource to the community.

”This community resource—operating 24/7/365—has a crew consisting of a pilot, flight paramedic, and flight nurse. Not only has LifeNet 7-14 been serving the area for a year, but most of the crew is from Central New York and the Midstate region, establishing long-standing relationships and partnerships. Additionally, the seasoned crew collectively has more than 100 years of aviation and medical experience among them.

“For many of the crew members, this is home. We grew up here. We know the area, the culture, and the people.” said David Sandbrook, a native and LifeNet 7-14 flight paramedic/clinical base lead. “We come to work every day honored to serve the Mohawk Valley region because we want to ensure that everyone can trust that in an emergency, they’ll have access to the highest level of critical care.”

The entire LifeNet of York program has been serving upstate New York for more than 30 years and has transported over 65,000 patients. The program’s air medical services are often referred to as flying ERs and intensive care units (ICUs) as each clinical crew carries the critical resources needed to provide ICU-level care while in flight, including the ability to carry and administer blood products in flight. The clinical team is extensively trained through Air Methods Ascend, an in-person and online training program that allows clinicians to perform at the top of their licensure, providing the highest level of prehospital care, and enabling clinicians to work in lockstep across the region no matter the community they are serving. Ascend is also available to medical personnel across the nation.

All LifeNet of New York programs offers ‘Air Medical Utilization and Landing Zone Safety Courses’ for local first response agencies. In addition, the crew enjoys the opportunity to attend local events to bring the aircraft when available for community members to see services upfront. Anyone can request these offerings, visit the LifeNet of New York website to submit a request.

In the coming months, LifeNet 7-14 will be hosting a ceremonious event for the community, marking the opening of the new location. In the meantime, the dedicated critical-care crew stands ready to serve when called upon by contacting emergency dispatch at 1-800-435-3822.

Photo from LifeNet 7-14 Facebook Feed.



HealthNet Aeromedical Services expands fleet with order of four Airbus H135 helicopters

February 27, 2024 | Airbus Press Release | Anaheim, California

HealthNet Aeromedical Services, headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, will soon expand its all-Airbus fleet with the addition of four H135 helicopters. As one of the largest hospital-based air medical programmes in the country, the helicopters will be used to serve adult, pediatric and neonatal patients across the state of West Virginia.

“HealthNet has been a valued partner of Airbus Helicopters, Inc. since 1986, and we look forward to supporting their mission as they elevate their fleet with the addition of four new H135s,” said Bart Reijnen, President of Airbus Helicopters, Inc. and Head of the North America region. “These helicopters will be the first in their fleet equipped with Helionix avionics, allowing for increased mission flexibility and safety that benefits their employees and the communities they serve.”

Airbus’ light, twin-engine H135 incorporates the most advanced technologies available, including Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite, which, in addition to the 4-axis autopilot, offers an innovative cockpit layout to enhance situational awareness. Designed with three large electronic displays, the H135’s cockpit is night vision goggle compatible and includes a First Limit Indicator, which highlights the appropriate engine instrument data for the pilot in one indicator.

“HealthNet Aeromedical Services and our three owner health systems are proud to continue to partner with Airbus to enhance our helicopter fleet,” said Clinton Burley, President and CEO. “The purchase of these aircraft exemplifies our programme’s commitment to advancing the delivery of safe and high-quality transport medicine to those we serve.”

HealthNet has exclusively operated Airbus helicopters since the programme’s inception nearly four decades ago, caring for more than 100,000 patients during that time. Their current fleet of eleven aircraft is comprised of H130, H135 and EC145 helicopters.

The H135 is the helicopter of reference for helicopter emergency medical service operators worldwide. It combines a wide, unobstructed cabin with excellent performance, range and payload capacity, as well as low sound levels. The oversized sliding side doors and rear clamshell doors enable fast loading/unloading of patients, with additional safety during ground operations provided by Airbus’ signature shrouded Fenestron tail rotor. The H135 is the global market leader for helicopter emergency medical services with more than 700 helicopters all around the world being used for life-saving missions.

To date, more than 1,500 helicopters of the H135 family have been delivered worldwide, all mission segments included, clocking in more than 7 million flight hours.

Photo from HealthNet Facebook Feed.

Boston MedFlight N143NE Upgrade

February 24, 2024 | Bedford, Massachusetts

On February 24, 2024 – N143NE arrived in Bedford from Grand Prairie, Texas after undergoing a 5 blade upgrade. N143NE left Bedford back in August 2023 for the Airbus facility, taking almost 6 months to complete the upgrade. On the flight back to Bedford, the aircraft spent the night in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. While at KAGC (Allegheny County Airport), our friend Matt Skelton was able to capture this awesome photo.

Boston MedFlight Upgrades Fleet

January 28, 2024 | Bedford, Massachusetts

On December 21, 2023 – N246NE arrived in Bedford from Shreveport, LA. The arrival of this new aircraft continues the BFM fleet moderization. Our records now show their fleet being comprised of:

  1. N141NE: D2 with 5 blade retro
  2. N142NE: D3
  3. N143NE: presently at Grand Prairie for 5 blade retro
  4. N144NE: D2 with 5 blade retro
  5. N145NE: D2 with 5 blade retro
  6. N246NE: D3
  7. N273NE: C2 – unconfirmed reports this aircraft has been purchased by Air Methods
Boston MedFlight has the most modern fleet of EMS Helicopters in the NE USA. Starting in 1984 with a BK117, BMF has also operated Dauphin and S76 aircraft alongside the BK117s.  

Photo from BMF “X” feed.

Air Evac Lifeteam 122 crash takes 3 lives

January 22, 2024 | Air Evac Lifeteam Facebook Post | Weatherford, Oklahoma

We are heartbroken to report that three crew members have perished in an accident that occurred on Saturday, January 20. At 11:23 pm local time AEL’s Operations Control Center (OCC) lost contact with the aircraft, a Bell 206L3 with call sign N295AE. The crew is based out of Weatherford, OK, and was returning to base after completing a patient care transport in Oklahoma City when the OCC lost contact with them. Nearby AEL teams assisted local law enforcement with the search.

Our primary focus is on supporting the families and our team members. CISM teams have been sent to assist our team members during this time.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the names of our three colleagues. Pilot Russell Haslam, Flight Nurse Adam Tebben and Flight Paramedic Steven FitzGerald. We continue to hold their families in our hearts.

AEL has turned over the scene and investigation to the NTSB.

MetroHealth, ProMedica unveil new Helipad on Main Campus

November 13, 2023 | MetroHealth Press Release | Cleveland, Ohio

MetroHealth officials and community partners celebrated the opening of the new helipad on Main Campus with a special ribbon cutting on Tuesday, November 14.

The new helipad, located on the roof of MetroHealth’s Critical Care Pavilion, is the latest piece of a $1 billion transformation of our Main Campus in Cleveland’s Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

“This new helipad is like MetroHealth itself: The best place to land in an emergency,” said MetroHealth President & CEO Airica Steed, Ed.D, RN, MBA, FACHE, during her remarks. “A safe and solid place. A welcoming place. A place where patients get the best emergency and trauma care in the region. Landing here means landing in the outstretched hands of healing.”

The new helipad is more than a slab of concrete. This state-of-the-art space includes technologies that automatically remove snow and ice. It is also engineered to reduce the impact of noise and vibration, so patients and caregivers inside the hospital won’t notice when a helicopter is landing or taking off. 

It also provides rapid access to our Emergency Department, our trauma bays and our operating rooms.

The event also served as an opportunity to celebrate the deepening partnership between MetroHealth and ProMedica in Toledo. Last year, MetroHealth and ProMedica forged a partnership that created one of the most experienced non-profit air medical transport teams in the nation.

And because of the ongoing collaboration, ProMedica Air is adding two upgraded helicopters to its fleet.

In October, ProMedica Air welcomed a new EC145e into service and is expected to add another in December. The new helicopters are equipped with the latest life-saving technology and are operated with two fully qualified pilots for additional safety. The aircraft also boast cutting-edge avionics to assist with navigation and communication.

Since August of 2022, MetroHealth and its experienced Metro Life Flight team have managed all operations for ProMedica Air, which has served Northwestern Ohio and Southern Michigan for 35 years. This partnership resulted in a system with four air bases – in Lorain, Sandusky, Wayne and Lucas counties – with four helicopters. Over the last year, ProMedica Air, with MetroHealth’s support, has conducted nearly a thousand transports.

“For more than 40 years, Metro Life Flight has set standard for aviation medical support,” said Jacqueline Spence, Executive Director, Pre-hospital & Business Development, at MetroHealth. “By working so closely with ProMedica Air, we are elevating the already-impressive level of care provided across Northern Ohio. Over this last year, we have learned a tremendous amount from each other, and we look forward to our continued partnership.”

“ProMedica Air is excited to be part of an innovative partnership with Metro Life Flight. Our mission to serve our communities is strong, and we have found a way to deliver critical care air transport to our regional communities more effectively,” said Andrea Donahue, MSN, RN, EMT-B, Associate Vice President, ProMedica Transportation Network. “This partnership is unique, and we are leading the way for other air programs to partner together. Now is the time for thinking outside of the box, and we together are proving that these types of partnerships can work.”

ProMedica Air and Metro Life Flight’s aircraft are operated by Metro Aviation Inc.

Since its founding in 1982, Metro Life Flight has been committed to providing the highest level of care while implementing the highest safety standards in the industry. In addition to air transport, the team includes a robust ground unit that transported nearly 3,300 patients in 2022.

Promedica Air places EC145 into service

October 06, 2023 | Promedica Air and Mobile Press Release | Toldeo, Ohio
 
This week ProMedica Air and Metro Life Flight held a ribbon cutting at Sandusky Regional Airport to launch its new EC145 helicopter into service. The new helicopter will be replacing one of the fleet’s EC135 helicopters.

The EC145 is upgraded with the latest life-saving technology and will assist the crew with emergency situations and patient transport needs. A few upgraded features include superior flight capabilities and cutting-edge avionics to assist with navigation and communication.

The other ProMedica Air EC135 helicopter is expected to be upgraded to an EC145 in November. The EC145 helicopter upgrades were made possible by a partnership with Metro Life Flight.

Since January 1, 2023, ProMedica Air has completed 712 flights. The helicopter upgrades will expand the inclusion criteria for patient transports by air, enabling the partnership to serve more people in the community.

N811LV enters service as WellFlight 4-90

July 26, 2023 |Roger Buck | Stevens, PA

This week N811LV , sporting a new Wellspan livery, entered service as WellFlight 4-90 based at the Stevens Fire Department in Stevens, Pennsylvania. N811LV replaces N341AM, the temporary Air Methods aircraft brought in to start up the base in March 2023. 

The seasoned enthusiast will recognize N811LV as the previous LVHN MedEvac 1 in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Air Methods will be changing the N # soon. Once the change occurs, the N811LV registration will be reassigned to the EC135 now serving with LVHN MedEvac 1 in Kutztown.

Photo by Roger Buck.