Helicopter Marketing Associates Signs For Three EC135s, Indiana
University Health Places Order For EC145
The order book for American Eurocopter is getting a workout at
the Air Medical Transport Conference in St. Louis. On Monday, the
company announced orders for three EC135s by Helicopter Marketing
Associates (HMA) for placement in the air medical industry, as well
as one EC145 which will go to Indiana University Health
LifeLine.
EC135 File Photo
“HMA’s choice of the EC135 reflects the tremendous
demand for this platform throughout the world, particularly in the
air medical market,” said Treg Manning, American
Eurocopter’s Vice President of Sales. “Across the
United States the EC135 has become the standard in the air medical
market with more than 170 in service with air medical operators and
programs.”
“The EC135 was the helicopter that fit the needs of our
customer,” said Fred Wagner, HMA’s President.
“They were looking for a twin-engine aircraft with a proven
history of success in the air medical industry and, with the
EC135’s success in the United States and the world, the EC135
was the clear choice.”
The EC135 is a versatile helicopter that is a natural fit for
emergency medical airlift missions. It features a greater useful
load compared to its larger, less fuel-efficient competitors, and
it has best-in-class acquisition and direct operating costs. The
EC135’s Fenestron-shrouded tail rotor adds an additional
safety benefit and contributes to one of the quietest noise
signatures in its class. The aircraft’s easily-accessible
rear clamshell doors facilitate the loading and unloading of
patients and complete the package that has raised the bar for air
medical helicopters.
IU Health EC145 On Indy 500 Race
Day
The EC145 is the fifth of the model to be ordered by Indiana
University Health LifeLine, adding to the fleet of four that were
purchased in late 2008. The first four went into service throughout
2010 and the fifth is expected to go into service this week.
“We have been extremely pleased with the EC145 and it has
become our premier aircraft,” said Steve Johnson, director of
LifeLine Critical Care Transport, IU Health. “Our program
does a large number of specialty team transports ranging from
neonates to adult trauma, often requiring special equipment and
extra crew members. The EC145 offers a large cabin and the
reliability and versatility we need to execute a variety of
specialty missions every day.”
IU Health is in the process of transitioning from a Visual
Flight Rules (VFR) program to Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) program
and the EC145 is the foundation to that transition. “The
EC145 provides us with a safe and stable platform as we move from
VFR to IFR,” said Johnson.