American Eurocopter showcases two helicopters at AMTC 2012
Air Methods EC130 B4 and University of Michigan Health System’s EC155 are being showcased by American Eurocopter at the Air Medical Transport conference being held in Seattle from 22 – 24 October.
American Eurocopter announced it will be showcasing the University of Michigan Health System Survival Flight’s EC155 and the Air Methods Corporation’s EC130 B4 at this year’s Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) 22-24 October in Seattle.
The featured EC130 B4 is a part of the Air Methods Corporation Community Based Services division and is affiliated with the AirLife program at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. It was completed by United Rotorcraft Services an Air Methods Division.
This year, Survival Flight switched from a competitor’s product, replacing the previous fleet with three American Eurocopter EC155 B1s – the first EC155 helicopters in the United States to be configured for air medical service.
“The Eurocopter 155 has exceeded the expectations of the University of Michigan Survival Flight program, “ said Survival Flight critical care manager Denise Landis. “The ability to care for our very complex patient population combined with the speed of the aircraft have added to the efficiencies of our program. Having the cabin space and power of the EC155 aircraft to take additional care providers is great.”
“The fuel capacity and range of the EC155 gives the University of Michigan organ procurement team an advantage by now being able to fly directly to a hospital, saving valuable time,” said Landis.
“Survival Flight could have chosen any manufacturer and any helicopter. We are pleased and proud to be the provider they selected for their specialty transports and demanding environment,” said American Eurocopter president and CEO Marc Paganini. “We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership.”
The Survival Flight EC155s were retrofitted by Metro Aviation at their facilities in Shreveport, Louisiana, and placed into service in June of this year. The aircraft are now based at Ann Arbor Airport and flown and maintained by 11 pilots and six mechanics who work for the university’s aviation partner, Penstar Aviation.
