N600HN in service as HealthNet 6

HealthNet| August 29, 2025 | Charleston, WV

N600HN | 2024 EC135P3 | SN 2288

The first of 5 brand new 
Airbus H135s has entered service at Upshur County Airport as HealthNet 6. N600HN arrived in West Virginia on July 17th. This aircraft replaces a 2013 EC135P2+.

Photo from HealthNet Facebook Feed.

LN NY 13 Flight Paramedic Kevin Robert passes

LifeNet of New York | August 28, 2025 | Ticonderoga, NY

Sharing this post from the LifeNet of New York Facebook page:

We are devastated to share that Flight Paramedic Kevin Robert passed away last night, August 27th, following a sudden medical emergency. Kevin, alongside a flight nurse and pilot, were caring for a patient aboard LifeNet 7-13, based out of Ticonderoga, NY.

Our crew quickly landed at a nearby hospital while our communications center coordinated emergency resources for Kevin and our patient. Despite the extraordinary efforts of our crew, communications teams, first responders, and the hospital staff, Kevin could not be revived.

Our priority now is the well-being of our teammates and the continued support of Kevin’s family. The Ticonderoga base remains on safety stand-down as we allow our team the time and space they need to grieve.

We ask that you keep Kevin’s family, friends, and teammates in your thoughts, and join us in respecting their privacy as we all navigate this heartbreaking loss. We will forever cherish the memories Kevin leaves with us, and we will carry his memory and legacy with us on every mission.

Photo from LifeNet of New York Facebook Feed.

Life Lion N600LL retires after 25 years of service

Life Lion| August 7, 2025 | Hershey, PA

From the Penn State Health Facebook Page:

After more than two decades of lifesaving service, Penn State Health Life Lion’s Critical Care Transport helicopter, N600LL, took its final flight on Thursday, Aug. 7. Since its first mission on May 14, 2001, this incredible aircraft has transported more than 9,000 patients over 8,222 flight hours — carrying hope and care when it mattered most.

The final flight was piloted by Life Lion Chief Pilot Randy Emery, who also flew the helicopter’s inaugural flight and will be retiring in a few months after 25 dedicated years with Life Lion.

Photo by: Penn State Health

 

PennSTAR 6 relocates from NJ to Penn Doylestown

PennSTAR | August 4, 2025 | Doylestown, PA

PennSTAR 6 relocated today from KVAY (South Jersey Regional Airport) in  Lumberton, New Jersey, to Penn Medicine Doylestown. Doylestown Hospital became part of Penn Medicine back on April 1, 2025, so no surprise that PennSTAR would place an aircraft at this location. 

Prior to this, Temple MedFlight was based at Doylestown Hospital. Temple relocated to St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne back in early July. Prior to Temple MedFlight, Doylestown Hospital was home to University MedEvac 5  back in the early 2000s.

Photo by: Roger Buck

Wellspan WellFlight shutting down Lebanon base

WellSpan WellFlight| July 30, 2025 | Lebanon, PA

According to reports from Air Methods, the WellSpan Wellflight 4-90 program in Lebanon, PA will cease operations on October 15, 2025. WellFlight 4-90 started operations in the summer of 2023, based at Stevens Fire Company. In 2024 the helicopter relocated to the Lebanon County 911 Center.

WellFlight’s Gettysburg flight program will not be affected and will continue to operate as normal.

The photo above was taken in 2023 at Stevens Fire Company, the aircraft was still sporting the old LVHN MedEvac registration of N811LV.

Phot by: Roger Buck

HealthNet Aeromedical Services Launches 40th Anniversary Celebration

HealthNet| July 1, 2025 | Charleston, WV

West Virginians will soon notice a “40” on HealthNet Aeromedical Services aircraft.

That’s because HealthNet Aeromedical Services — the not-for-profit critical care transport system cooperatively owned and operated by Marshall Health Network, Vandalia Health and WVU Medicine — is celebrating four decades of providing high-quality aeromedical services across Central Appalachia.

“Our commitment is to provide compassionate, high-quality care,” said Clinton Burley, president and CEO of HealthNet Aeromedical Services. “Safety is our top priority and the focus of everything we do. That focus hasn’t changed over the past four decades. But many things certainly have. It’s an incredible story of collaboration, dedication and innovation.”

Before 1985, the West Virginia State Police operated medical helicopters out of the Charleston and Morgantown regions. However, the state-funded service operated only during daylight hours and a lack of funding threatened its existence altogether.  

West Virginia’s hospital systems stepped in, taking inspiration from St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver — where, years earlier, in a bid to host the 1972 Olympic Games, a hospital-based air medical helicopter system launched to ensure injured Olympians could quickly reach area medical centers. Ironically, Denver didn’t host the Olympics — but they had created a quality, hospital-sponsored flight program that worked very well. 

The Mountain State’s hospitals worked cooperatively, providing air transport for all of West Virginia. That cooperative nature is reflected in HealthNet Aeromedical Services’ “snowflake” logo, with lines extending to all parts of the state. 

“Their vision turned into the incredible system we have today,” Burley said. “Each could have operated their own transport systems, but they decided to work together, doing the best thing for West Virginia and her people.”

HealthNet Aeromedical Services’ dedication in 1986 took place at Charleston Area Medical Center, where West Virginia native and renowned NASA astronaut the late John McBride spoke.  

Its first two bases were in Charleston and Morgantown, and Huntington’s base began operating in 1987. Today, HealthNet Aeromedical Services’ eight bases include operations in Beckley, Buckhannon, Huntington, Lewisburg, Martinsburg, Millwood, Morgantown and Moundsville.

“Our story is one of challenges and opportunities,” Burley said. “It’s one of success. And I’m proud that it’s a story of firsts, and a story of countless lives saved.”

HealthNet Aeromedical Services was the first program east of the Mississippi River to utilize night vision goggles in all phases of operation, allowing pilots to more safely navigate the state’s hills and hollows.  

It was one of the earliest programs to have blood and plasma on all flights.  

“HealthNet Aeromedical Services employs the latest technology in both safety and clinical operations,” Burley said. “The program is dedicated to leveraging technology to improve service delivery.”

In 2019, HealthNet Aeromedical Services was named Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Program of the Year. 

Today, the fleet of 10 aircrafts includes eight helicopters with twin engines and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) equipment. “An IFR-equipped aircraft can fly in and above the clouds and allow us to reach many patients that other helicopters simply cannot,” Burley said. “That means we save lives every day.”

About HealthNet Aeromedical Services

Headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, is a not-for-profit critical care transport system cooperatively owned and operated by Marshall Health Network, Vandalia Health and WVU Medicine. The organization serves Central Appalachia from eight helicopter bases across West Virginia. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the program has safely transported more than 120,000 patients since beginning operations in 1986. To learn more about HealthNet Aeromedical Services, visit hnmed.org.

PennSTAR 1 emergency landing

UPenn PennSTAR | May 19, 2025 | Fort Washington, PA

PennSTAR 1 (N117NC) , based at Wings Field, had to make an emergency landing while enroute to home base from Penn Presby in Philadelphia. Total trip from Presby to Wings Field is about 13 miles, the BK117 was about 2 miles south of the base when the emergency occurred. ADS-B data shows a drop from 1400 feet cruise altitude to 400 feet in just 16 seconds.

Reports indicate the tail rotor was found not far from the landing area. An amazing job by the pilot to get this aircraft on the ground safely with no harm to the crew or to anyone on the ground.