Adds Super King Air B200 To Fleet

In an effort to upgrade its fixed wing transport capabilities, California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR) has purchased a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air. The airplane will replace a Cessna 421B aircraft currently operated by the company. “The addition of the King Air to our fleet helps us continue our fixed wing transport growth, but even more importantly it helps us extend our mission of delivering excellent patient care to a larger population of patients that need our service,” said Tad Henderson, CALSTAR’s chief operations officer.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-61 turbine engines, the aircraft boasts a maximum service altitude of 35,000 feet and it can cruise at speeds in excess of 345 mph.  “The altitude and speed combination offers non-stop service to destinations in excess of 1,000 nautical miles,” said Jim Arthur, director of Flight Operations.

The airplane was previously owned by a corporation for the purpose of business travel and is presently undergoing a conversion process to serve CALSTAR’s life-saving mission as an air ambulance. Arthur said upgrades include medical crew seating for four and advanced life support equipment designed to carry up to two adult patients or two neonatal incubators. He added that the cockpit is undergoing a complete upgrade to a Garmin G 1000 avionics system, including weather radar, satellite tracking and telephone and traffic alerting, as well as advanced GPS capabilities and synthetic vision.

Arthur further noted that as an additional convenience to CALSTAR’s medical center clients, the aircraft will be equipped with a powered loading system that will greatly enhance the safety and efficiency of loading patients that are immobilized on a gurney.

The Super King Air will be placed into service immediately following the air ambulance conversion process.  “We anticipate an August 1 completion date,” Arthur said. (B200 File Photo)

FMI: www.calstar.org