MARTINSVILLE (WSLS10) – In Southside, a crowd of 60 gathered at the Blue Ridge Regional Airport in Martinsville for a big announcement. Martinsville and Henry County welcomed a new state of the art helicopter that provides urgent medical services to the region. The rotorcraft is equip with new safety features and is the only air medical helicopter that will be able to provide level one trauma care transport in the area.
Clear skies allow for ideal flying conditions. However, helicopter air ambulance pilots don’t control the weather or emergencies, when a patient may only have moments.
“Patients having heart attacks and strokes, those are very time sensitive injuries,” said Tony Raymond, Air Care base manager. “They need to get to high level care usually within 60 minutes.”
A helicopter can get a patient to the hospital fast. From Martinsville to Roanoke or Salem it would only take 20 minutes.
The Federal Aviation Administration said 90 percent of all helicopter air ambulance mishaps are weather related. That’s why when pilots hit rough air or weather, this chopper has auto pilot which helps stabilize the aircraft.
“Having an auto pilot we’re able with just the touch of a couple buttons, the helicopter is flying itself which makes it a little bit safer,” said relief pilot, Matthew Currin.
This new helicopter rings in at four to five million dollars and is provided by Air Methods in partnership with Air Care.
Martinsville and Henry County leaders told us it’s an upgrade from the previous aircraft –and was much needed.
“With the medical training and the equipment on board the aircraft, it brings the ICU and critical care to the patient,” said Raymond.”
“It’s a newer asset,” said Blue Ridge Regional Airport Manager Jason Davis. “So, it’s going to have newer technology, newer avionics, a new air-frame with a new paint job.”
Covering a 125 mile radius, this helicopter will service parts of Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. County leaders said this is a good investment for our region.
ORIGINAL – A big announcement in Southside – as Martinsville and Henry County welcome a new state-of-the-art helicopter to provide urgent medical services to the region.
This is the only air medical helicopter that will be able to provide level one trauma care – transporting patients to multiple hospitals.
The new technology replaces an older helicopter.
The new $5 million helicopter will also have more mapping systems and fly on autopilot.
Story and video: http://wsls.com
A new helicopter with the latest technology was revealed at the Blue Ridge Regional Airport Tuesday.
HENRY CO., Va. -
The largest air medical provider in the world is continuing to investment in the Martinsville area.
Tuesday, a new helicopter with the latest technology was revealed at the Blue Ridge Regional Airport.
The brand new H-130 T-2 Air Methods Medical Helicopter lands at the Blue Ridge Regional Airport.
"It has an auto pilot, anti collision weather reporting. So overall it makes it a lot safer for the medical crew the pilot and for the patients that we fly," Nurse and Base Manager Anthony Raymond said.
The company has replaced the current helicopter at the airport with this one.
It's the newest of its kind, with the latest in aviation and medical technology aboard.
"Two medical providers, a pilot and one patients." Raymond said.
It's critical care in the sky.
"We have a cardiac monitor, ventilator and all the medications that you can use to help provide critical care for a patient," Raymond said.
There are only 10 in the world and one of them is now serving Southern Virginia.
"Show a continued commitment to the region by placing a new aircraft in this area," Raymond said.
"These are experienced folks that go out and get the job done and definitely will save lives," Airport Manager James Davis said.
Davis says the company's continued presence here means they continue to pay their rent, they continue to buy fuel and they continue to employ people that now live in the immediate area.
"We're doing our job reciprocating to them as they are to us so we look forward to spending many years here," Davis said.
Davis says they have a 20-year master plan for expansion and improvements throughout the airport including expanding the runway, a new terminal and ramp as well as a pavement rehabilitation project.
The largest air medical provider in the world introduced a new helicopter that will help patients in Martinsville.
During an announcement at Martinsville's airport this morning, Air Methods Incorporated introduced the H130 T2 Helicopter, the newest of its kind.
The helicopter can carry one patient and two medical providers and a pilot.
Story and video: http://www.wdbj7.com
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