Blog

CareFlight to replace 1991 AS365N2 with AW169

Posted on by rwbuck

Premiere Health | February 17, 2025 | Dayton, OH

The four Premier Health Hospital Foundations have announced a system-wide campaign to raise $13.5 million for a new CareFlight helicopter. This advanced aircraft will replace a 34-year-old Dauphin helicopter, the oldest in Premier Health’s fleet.

The new aircraft, a Leonardo AW169, will set a new standard for air ambulance services in the region, offering unmatched speed, enhanced safety features, and cutting-edge technology. Capable of reaching speeds up to 200 mph, the new aircraft is capable of carrying two patients simultaneously along with a care team consisting of nurses, paramedics, and a pilot.

“CareFlight has been a vital lifeline for our region for more than 40 years, providing critical care when it’s needed most,” said Michael C. Riordan, president and CEO of Premier Health. “This new generation of aircraft reaffirms our commitment to our mission – To Care. To Teach. To Innovate. To Serve – by providing our community with the highest level of emergency medical services for decades to come.”

The enhancements in safety and technology on-board the new CareFlight AW169 will include APU mode, which allows the rotor blades to stop during patient loading and unloading, as well as advanced avionics like a four-axis autopilot system, night vision goggle compatibility, and collision avoidance systems.

“As aviation technology continues to evolve, it’s essential that we stay at the forefront to meet the dynamic demands of our life-saving missions,” said Amanda McClure, MHA, BSN, RN, vice president of service integration, Emergency and Trauma Institute at Premier Health. “This new aircraft represents a significant leap forward in our ability to provide the highest level of care.”

Since the program started in 1983, CareFlight has transported and cared for nearly 90,000 patients. The program’s helicopters and Mobile Intensive Care Units serve a 150-mile radius from Miami Valley Hospital’s Level I Trauma Center in Dayton, which includes most of Ohio and parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and West Virginia. The program has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems since 1994.

“The Care in the Air campaign is about more than funding a new aircraft—it’s about investing in the future of critical care for our region,” said Jenny M. Lewis, MBA, CFRE, system vice president of philanthropy at Premier Health. “Every gift to this campaign will help save lives and provide hope for families during their most vulnerable moments.”

Leonardo S.p.A. in Italy is assembling the new CareFlight aircraft, which is anticipated to enter into service by spring 2026.

Premier Health’s four hospital Foundations, including Atrium Medical Center Foundation, Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton, Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, and Upper Valley Medical Center Foundation, are asking the community to support this life-saving initiative through their Care in the Air campaign. Donations of all sizes are welcome and will directly contribute to the purchase of the new CareFlight aircraft.

To learn more about the campaign or to donate, please contact the Premier Health Hospital Foundations at (937) 208-2700 or visit premierhealth.com/foundations.

Silly Season of Hospital Air Ambulances

Posted on by rwbuck

February 21, 2025 | alecbuck.com | Danville, PA

Interesting story with Stanford Life Flight and Christiana Care. In early January of this year, N245CC was delivered to Stanford Life Flight in California. Had been reported that this 2022 Airbus BK117D3 was originally slated to go to Christina Care in Delaware, to the point of photos being posted in the Christian Care livery (this aircraft has gone thru reg changes from D-HBKE to N151AH to N245CC).

Instead of receiving a new D3, Christina Care placed N145NK, a C2, into service back in mid 2024. The C2 replaced N117J, a 1990 BK117B1.

Photos from Stanford Life Flight Facebook Feed.

Cleveland Clinic places N971CC in service

Posted on by rwbuck

February 21, 2025 | Cleveland Clinic CCT | Cleveland, OH  

Cleveland Clinic CCT placed N971CC in service earlier this month. This 2023 Airbus MBB-BK117D3 is the first of three scheduled to be placed into service with Cleveland Clinic CCT this year. The other two aircraft are N979CC (which arrived in Ohio in January 2025) and N972CC (no update available).

With the transition away from their fleet of Sikorsky S76 aircraft, this ends the era of the S76 in the northeast United States. At one time the S76 was also in service with Boston MedFlight, Geisinger Life Flight, Allegheny Life Flight, and University MedEvac.

Photo from Cleveland Clinic CCT Facebook Feed.

Boston MedFlight expanding into New Hampshire

Posted on by rwbuck

February 5, 2025 | Boston MedFlight | Boston, MA

 Boston MedFlight, a globally recognized nonprofit organization providing critical care medical transport services to patients since 1985, is pleased to announce plans to expand its operations to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (“Pease”) beginning on or around March 1st, in order to reduce response times and minimize delays in access to lifesaving medical care for critically ill, injured, and other high-acuity patients in Southern New Hampshire.

Boston MedFlight will station one helicopter along with a highly trained three-person crew – including a pilot, critical care transport nurse, and critical care transport paramedic – at Pease daily as weather and operations permit.

By strategically positioning these additional resources, this day base expansion aims to:

  • Support first responders in Southern New Hampshire in providing immediate critical care.
  • Ensure safe and efficient patient transport to the appropriate hospital, whether in New Hampshire, Boston, or elsewhere.
  • Enhance critical care coverage across the entire region through close collaboration with our partners, including DHART (Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response Team) and LifeFlight of Maine.

“As a nonprofit, every decision we make at Boston MedFlight is guided by careful consideration and a commitment to our patients’ best interests, and this was no different,” said Maura Hughes, CEO of Boston MedFlight. “Based on this patient-first mindset and our initial analysis of the opportunity at Pease, we are confident that this initiative has the potential to benefit even more communities in the area and expand access to the highest-quality care, regardless of a patient’s location or ability to pay for our services.”

“One of the most essential responsibilities of an airport is to serve its local community. Boston MedFlight’s decision to base a crew and aircraft at Portsmouth International Airport provides an invaluable resource to the region — an amenity we all hope no family will ever have to use,” Executive Director Brean of the Pease Development Authority (PDA) said. “But if the need arises, it’s reassuring to know that precious, life-saving minutes can help transport our community members to the world’s best-specialized healthcare at a moment’s notice.”

Tiffany Eddy, the PDA’s spokesperson, stated that Boston MedFlight “designed routes so there would be no impacts to abutters.” The routes they’ll be flying out of Pease were specifically selected for “noise mitigation,” she said.

“Formally expanding our operations to Pease is a natural step for Boston MedFlight that will enable us to respond even faster to patients in the region and ensure they receive the necessary care as soon as possible,” added Rick Kenin, Chief Operating Officer-Transport at Boston MedFlight.

For more information about Boston MedFlight and its lifesaving mission, visit https://www.bostonmedflight.org/.

About Boston MedFlight:
A nonprofit organization founded in 1985, Boston MedFlight has transported more than 100,000 patients, including over 6,000 patients in 2024 alone. The organization provides comprehensive medical transport services by air and ground to patients in New England and beyond. Boston MedFlight works in close partnership with local and regional healthcare systems to ensure timely access to high-quality and specialized care. Operating as mobile intensive care units (ICUs), all Boston MedFlight vehicles—including its fleet of seven helicopters, a jet, and nine critical care ambulances—are equipped to provide advanced life support and critical care during transport.
 
For more information, please contact:
Erin Erban
Associate Director of Marketing and Communications
774-573-3941
erin.erban@bostonmedflight.org

 

Delaware State Police add two new Bell 429s

Posted on by rwbuck

December 11, 2024 | Delaware State Police | Georgetown, DE

The Delaware State Police (DSP) Aviation Section is proud to announce the acquisition of two state-of-the-art Bell 429 Global Ranger helicopters. These cutting-edge aircraft, designed to save lives and combat crime, touched down in Delaware on December 3, 2024, following a nearly year-long fabrication process in Mirabel, Quebec, Canada, and Piney Flats, Tennessee.

After years of operating with a reduced fleet of three helicopters, the decision was made to increase the fleet to four. One of the existing aircraft was traded in to facilitate this upgrade as part of the acquisition process. This strategic move ensured the modernization of the fleet without compromising operational readiness. Operating with only three helicopters had previously led to an accelerated maintenance schedule, limited training opportunities, and reduced redundancy during mechanical issues.

In keeping with Delaware’s tradition of valuing unique identifiers, such as low-digit license plates, the tail numbers of these new helicopters— “N2SP” and “N71SP”—pay homage to the proud history of DSP aircraft.

The Bell 429 helicopters come equipped with numerous advancements in aviation technology. These include modern digital gauges, updated monitors, and an enhanced camera system. Notably, these are the first law enforcement Bell 429 helicopters to feature a rear-view camera, providing pilots with an improved field of view during takeoff and landing. Additionally, the aircraft boasts a lightweight interior design, enhancing accessibility and reducing overall weight.

The DSP Aviation Section has flown 526 patients to area trauma centers in 2024, a number expected to grow as DSP paramedics prepare to carry and administer whole blood to critically ill patients. To support this initiative, the new helicopters are equipped with blood warmers for lifesaving transfusions. They also feature upgraded medical equipment, including Zoll Heart Monitors, advanced airway management devices, ventilators, and infusion pumps.

Captain Jeff Whitmarsh, Aviation Commander, remarked, “These new aircraft represent a significant leap forward in our mission to serve and protect the people of Delaware. I have no doubt that they will save lives from their very first mission. Our highly trained crews are ready to support law enforcement, fire personnel, ground medics, and the general public. These helicopters enhance our capacity, efficiency, and capability to serve the First State from above.”

Photo and story from DSP Facebook Feed.

JeffSTAT 5 opens at A. I. Dupont

Posted on by rwbuck

December 2, 2024 | JeffSTAT | Wilmington, DE

JeffSTAT and Nemours Transport Team’s have partnered to provide emergent flight services to both neonatal and pediatric patients requiring higher level of care at Nemour’s Children’s Hospital.

JeffTSTAT 5 was placed into service in early December and is based at 16DE – A I Dupont Children’s Hospital in Wilmington. The aircraft in service is N145TJ, a 2009 BK117C2. This aircraft was previously in service as JeffSTAT 3 at Riddle Hospital.

To backfill the JeffSTAT 3 base, Air Methods has placed N527ME at Riddle Hospital. N527ME, a 2007 EC135T2+, was previously in service with UPMC STAT MedEvac.

Photo from Nemours X Feed.

Mercy Flight Central damaged in landing

Posted on by rwbuck

Mercy Flight Central, operating in N281MC (2022 AW119 MkII), reportedly suffered a loss of engine power on approach to home base at Canandaigua Airport (KIUA) in Canandaigua, New York. First reports indicate the crew, consisting of the pilot, medic and nurse, were not injured. Mercy Flight Central was returning home from Strong Memorial Hospital. 

Photo from the 13 WHAM ABC Facebook feed.

2024 Pilot of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Award

Posted on by rwbuck

Date: July 12, 2024
Release: For Immediate Release
From: National EMS Pilots Association
Subject: NEMSPA EMS Pilot of the Year Award & NEMSPA Lifetime Achievement Award

The National EMS Pilots Association is now accepting nominations for the NEMSPA EMS Pilot of the Year and the NEMSPA Lifetime Achievement Awards. Both awards will be presented at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in Salt Lake City, UT November 2024.

Nominees should embody the best that the air ambulance industry has to offer in Professionalism, Technical Expertise, Safety, and Leadership to include being involved and having contributed to the air medical and aviation industries.

Due to competition, it is highly recommended that all submitters provide specific details as to why they think their nominee should be chosen. While the quality of the information for the nominee is very important so too is the number of nominations submitted for each individual. So please tell all your friends to submit a nomination in their own words as well.

Online Submission site: www.nemspa.org/awards
Deadline: August 15, 2024

About NEMSPA: Formed in 1984, the National EMS Pilots Association, otherwise known as “NEMSPA” is a professional pilot’s association dedicated to giving a voice to and fighting for all pilots working in the air-medical transport industry. To learn more about NEMSPA go to www.nemspa.org and like us on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.

Mercy Flight Central Update

Posted on by rwbuck

June 14, 2024 | Mercy Flight Central | Canandaigua, NY

Since July 2023, Mercy Flight Central has placed four new AW119 helicopters into service, the last arriving in New York at the end of March 2024. 

The four new aircraft are N281MC, N319MC, N651MC and N810MC. All are 2022 AW119MKII models. Also remaining in fleet are N196LL, a 1989 BK117B2; N636MC, a 1990 BK117B2; and N911SM, a 1990 BK117B2. Looking at flightradar logs, N911SM is the only BK117 still getting flight time. 

Mercy Flight Central, established in 1992, operates from bases in Canandaigua, Marcellus and Rome. 

Photo from the Mercy Flight Central Facebook Feed.

Boston MedFlight sells N273NE to Metro Aviation

Posted on by rwbuck

June 14, 2024 | Boston MedFlight | Bedford, Massachusetts

Last month, New England Life Flight Inc (Boston MedFlight) sold N273NE to Metro Aviation. In service with Boston MedFlight for the past 10+ years, the recent upgrades and additions to the BMF fleet left this 2013 MBB-BK 117C2 (sn 9586) available for sale. 

Since being acquired by Metro Aviation, N273NE went to the Metro service center just outside Pittsburgh before being assigned to IU LifeLine in Indianapolis for a 2 week assignment. Earlier this week the aircraft departed Indiana and is now sitting at Hampton Roads Executive Airport in Virginia. 

First thought is this Virginia assignment would be with Nightengale at Sentera Norfolk as N145NG is in Pennsylvnia for maintenance. But, N955AL arrived in Virginia last week as the replacement.

Photo from the IU Health LifeLine Facebook Feed.