The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) is boosting its PennSTAR AMS (Air Medical Services) fleet with the purchase of a new EC145.
PennSTAR currently flies three BK117s and four EC135s. The new EC145 is scheduled to be in service by summer 2013, replacing one of the BK117 C1 aircraft.
“PennMedicine and PennSTAR are always looking to improve our air medical transport and patient care capability,” said PennSTAR Flight Team Program Director, Robert Higgins. “After considering the available aircraft, we selected the EC145 based on its proven, safe record, viable economics and our excellent experience for nearly 30 years with American Eurocopter product support. We look forward to fielding the aircraft including the latest safety technology available in spring of next year.”
UPHS includes the prestigious Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn-Presbyterian Medical Center, and Pennsylvania Hospital, which was established as the nation’s first hospital in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. The PennSTAR Flight Team is an integral component of the University of Pennsylvania Trauma Network, which includes the Level 1 Trauma Centers at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the St. Luke’s Hospital and Health Network in Bethlehem, Pa., and the Level 2 Trauma Center at The Reading Hospital & Medical Center in Reading, Pa.
The EC145 was selected by PennSTAR for a number of reasons including payload and range capacity, along with the large cabin and useful load ability allowing PennSTAR to transport medical teams and special equipment. Providing operators with multi-mission capability in a medium-class, twin-engine helicopter, the EC145 is powered by two Turbomeca ARRIEL engines. The aircraft’s combination of speed and performance, along with its high-set main and tail rotors, large cabin and rear-loading clamshell doors, has made it the helicopter of choice for a large number of EMS programs in the United States and worldwide.
“PennSTAR has been trying to add an EC145 for some time,” said American Eurocopter Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Treg Manning. “We applaud their diligence and appreciate the time they invested in researching us and our competition. An organization like PennMedicine does not make these decisions without due diligence and we are proud to be selected to help meet their long-term needs in a challenging business environment.”
ProMedica Air is adding a new EC135 P2e to its fleet. The aircraft is slated to go into service in April 2013, joining ProMedica Air’s Toledo, Ohio-based EC135 and BO105.
“ProMedica Air looks forward to the addition of a second EC135 to our fleet,” said ProMedica Transportation Network Administrative Director, Jack Morasch. “The EC135 format is time proven and in conjunction with our aviation vendor, Metro Aviation, has proven to be a safe, reliable and efficient aircraft that has addressed the multi-mission needs of our organization.”
Established in 1986, ProMedica is a mission-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization serving northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, offering a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical specialties in areas such as emergency medicine and trauma, heart and vascular, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and women’s and children’s services. Today, ProMedica – a committed team of dedicated experts, passionate volunteers and inspired advocates – is recognized nationally for the consistent, high-level care provided.
“I am very appreciative that ProMedica has selected American Eurocopter as their long term Air Medical Transport solution,” said American Eurocopter Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Treg Manning. “The team at ProMedica exemplifies professionalism and dedication to delivering the best health care value and patient care. We are proud that they see the EC135 as part of this equation and look forward to supporting them for many years.”
The technologically advanced EC135 helicopter combines a wide, unobstructed cabin with Eurocopter’s Fenestron tail rotor and bearingless variable-speed main rotor for excellent performance, range and payload capacity – along with low-noise operation and multi-mission capability. Oversized sliding side doors and rear clamshell doors enable fast loading/unloading of passengers and equipment, with energy-absorbing crew and cabin seats installed as standard.
OSF Aviation has added four new EC145s to their fleet. The new aircraft were placed into service this summer as part of a fleet replacement program initiated last fall.
OSF Aviation has added four new EC145s to their fleet. The new aircraft were placed into service this summer as part of a fleet replacement program initiated last fall. OSF Aviation is a part of Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare and provides air medical support services to eight hospitals and their communities throughout OSF HealthCare’s Illinois service areas.
OSF Aviation is a part of Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare and provides air medical support services to eight hospitals and their communities throughout OSF HealthCare’s Illinois service areas. The new EC145s replaced the fleet operated for OSF Saint Anthony Lifeline (Rockford, Ill.) and OSF Saint Francis Life Flight (Peoria, Ill.). Currently, this team of physicians, nurses, pilots and mechanics averages 2,200 patient transfers each year, making it the busiest aeromedical operation unit in the State of Illinois.
“We could not be more pleased with our selection of the EC 145,” said OSF Executive Director Brent Grady. “Our fleet of four has been in service since July and greatly improved our patient care and transport capability. We looked at several helicopters for our needs. The 145 offered the best combination of pre-hospital patient care, specialty transport capability, life cycle cost, safety record, and proven manufacturer support. OSF is certain that our investment in Eurocopter products will provide positive returns for the long-term while allowing us to support our growing system transport needs.”
Completed by United Rotorcraft, an Air Methods Division, the EC145s are outfitted with the latest safety equipment, including night-vision goggles, Extended Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), Traffic Alert Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Skyconnect Satellite tracking, a Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS), and are fully certified to operate with the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), giving pilots greater flexibility and further enhancing safety. These aircraft are the first WAAS-certified EC145s in service in the USA.
“When we entered the competition at OSF Aviation it was open to anybody,” said American Eurocopter Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing Treg Manning. “They were using competitor aircraft and were very thorough in their procurement research. When their work was done, they selected the EC145, based not only on its capabilities, but also for having American Eurocopter as a long-term support partner. We are truly appreciative of their efforts and confidence in us.”
About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer and markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and parapublic helicopters offered by any manufacturer.
The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS.