AMS Provider Adds EC-145s To Organization's Fleet
Hot on the heels of receiving a $1 million contribution from
ExxonMobil to go towards new helicopters,
Houston-based Memorial Hermann Life Flight awarded American
Eurocopter an order for six EC-145s, adding to the success of the
twin-engine helicopter in the US air medical services (AMS)
marketplace.
A long-time operator of Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft --
beginning in 1976 as America's second air medical program, when it
used the SA319B Alouette -- today's fleet at Memorial Life Flight
includes four Eurocopter helicopters: three BK117s and a B0105.
"We are the only AMS provider in the greater Houston area
capable of carrying loads of two patients with twin-engine speed
and safety," said Tom Flanagan, chief operating officer of Memorial
Hermann Life Flight.
"The EC145 will continue to provide us with these operational
advantages, while also giving us a state-of-the art aircraft that
is suited to our around-the-clock missions."
"This latest order is another confirmation of the EC145's value
for providers of emergency medical services," said American
Eurocopter President Marc Paganini. "It also demonstrates our
customer commitment, which spans three decades with Memorial
Hermann Life Flight."
The EC145's performance, fast cruise speed, and large cabin make
it the helicopter of choice for a growing number of AMS operators
in the US and worldwide. For Memorial Hermann Life Flight's
operations, the aircraft will be configured to accommodate special
mission equipment and medical personnel for neonatal transports and
intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) patients.
The EC145's large sliding doors, rear clamshell loading doors
and high-set main and tail rotors facilitate the loading of
equipment and patients, all important attributes to AMS operators.
Twin-engine safety is provided by the helicopter's Turbomeca ARRIEL
1E2 turbine powerplants.
A program of the 16-hospital Memorial Hermann Healthcare System
in Houston, Memorial Hermann Life Flight is based at the system's
level one trauma center and teaching hospital, Memorial
Hermann-Texas Medical Center. Life Flight was the first air
ambulance program to operate in Texas, the second in the U.S. and
has completed more than 110,000 missions since inception. Life
Flight receives no federal, state or local monies and is entirely
funded by Memorial Hermann and its philanthropic partners.
American Eurocopter is the American subsidiary of Eurocopter,
the world's largest helicopter manufacturer. Its US headquarters
and main facility are in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large new
manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS.
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