Sun, Jul 08, 2007
King Air 200 Replaces Aircraft Lost In February CFIT
Accident
In a move to restore Benedis Healthcare's full ability to
transport ill and injured patients to area hospitals -- and, to aid
in the healing process after a February plane crash claimed three
Mercy Flight workers -- on Thursday the Great Falls, MT health care
provider received its new Beechcraft King Air 200.
"We were anxiously awaiting our new (plane) to go through all
the checks and arrive," said Mercy Flight pilot Mike Milburn to the
Great Falls Tribune. "It's just going to be an ideal airplane for
the mission."
The aircraft lost in February was also a King Air 200 (type
shown above.) Pilot Vince Kirol, Paramedic Paul Erickson, and nurse
Darcy Dengel were killed when the aircraft impacted mountainous
terrain while on approach to Gallatin Field Airport (BZN) in
Belgrade to pick up a patient.
Crewmembers wanted another King Air, said chief flight nurse
Scott Schandelson. The crew used a loaned King Air 100 in the
interim.
The new plane is slightly different than the one that was lost.
Its paint scheme is subtlely different, and the interior has some
minor changes -- which Schandelson hopes will ease the
psychological impact for the crew.
As with the accident aircraft, the new King Air will be owned
and operated by Metro Aviation, contracted to Benefis.
Mercy Flight hoped to have the plane operational this weekend,
after familiarization runs and stocking it with equipment. Benefis
plans to host an open house in the future, to display the new
plane.
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