Tue, Nov 29, 2016
Life Flight Network Will Base Asset At Southwest Washington Regional Airport
Life Flight Network is moving its helicopter stationed at PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview, WA, to the Southwest Washington Regional Airport in Kelso, WA, effective November 23rd. The move has been under consideration for several years as Life Flight Network evaluated opportunities for improving the services offered in Cowlitz County.

"The upcoming relocation to Kelso is just a short move from where we are currently located, yet it will improve our overall response time throughout the region," said Jodi Franzman, Customer Service Manager. "Currently, the crew must walk approximately five minutes to get to the helicopter. In the new location, it will be right outside our back door. Life Flight Network frequently transports patients who are experiencing time sensitive emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes or traumatic injuries. In these situations every minute matters."
"Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue feels that Life Flight Network relocating to the airport will be a positive move," said Becky Ribelin, EMS Administrator and Deputy Chief for Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue. "It will decrease the time for Life Flight Network crew members to access their helicopter to fly to a scene. This enables the team to get to the patient faster and therefore to definitive care faster. Life Flight Network being at the airport also means that EMS can rendezvous with them there instead of navigating through the City of Longview before taking the patient through the hospital. Both of these issues have increased the time it takes the patient to get to where they need to be the quickest."
Life Flight Network has served the area for nearly four decades from several locations. The Longview base was established in 2008. The partnership and collaboration with Longview PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center will continue despite the helicopter being stationed two miles away. The Leonardo 119Kx helicopter can make the trip to hospitals in the Portland-Vancouver area in less than 17 minutes.
(Source: Life Flight Network news release. Image from file)
More News
Option Approach An approach requested and conducted by a pilot which will result in either a touch-and-go, missed approach, low approach, stop-and-go, or full stop landing. Pilots >[...]
"Emirates is already the world's largest Boeing 777 operator, and we are expanding our commitment to the program today with additional orders for 65 Boeing 777-9s. This is a long-t>[...]
(Pilot) Reported That There Was A Sudden And Violent Vibration Throughout The Airplane That Lasted Several Seconds Analysis: The pilot was returning to his home airport at an altit>[...]
“This recognition was evident during the TBMOPA Annual Convention, where owners and operators clearly expressed their satisfaction with our focus on customer service, and enc>[...]
Overhead Maneuver A series of predetermined maneuvers prescribed for aircraft (often in formation) for entry into the visual flight rules (VFR) traffic pattern and to proceed to a >[...]