Air medical service gets $130M lift
New Helicopter Fleet; Choppers transport patients throughout the province
Melissa Leong, National Post
Published: Monday, August 25, 2008
For the first time in decades, Ontario will have a new fleet of air ambulances after the province's service provider announced the purchase of the most advanced medical helicopters in the world.
The 10 new helicopters, which cost about $130-million, is Canada's most significant purchase for transport medicine, said representatives of Ornge, a Toronto-based agency.
"We can go farther, we can go faster and we can go through more weather. What this means is it increases access," said Dr. Chris Mazza, an emergency trauma physician and president and CEO of Ornge.
Ornge is replacing its ageing fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters with new AgustaWestland helicopters, which are the first mid-sized helicopters in the world with anti-icing technology, Dr. Mazza said.
The new aircraft have more powerful engines and larger interior cabins that become mobile critical-care units for doctors, nurses and paramedics to work in. The cockpits are fully computerized with a built-in Global Positioning System.
Ontario's air-ambulance program began in 1977 with a single helicopter at the Buttonville airport. Over the years, different regions established medical-transport bases operating out of local hospitals.
In 2005, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care appointed the Ontario Air Ambulance Service Corporation -- which later became Ornge-- to co-ordinate all aspects of the province's aero-medical transport system.
Today, Ontario residents are served by 11 helicopters and 77 airplanes flying out of 22 bases around the province.
Ornge covers almost one million square kilometres of territory and performs about 18,000 admissions annually, landing its bright-orange helicopters at traffic or boating accidents and taking patients to trauma centres.
The company also transports patients between hospitals and organ-recovery teams.
New Bandages
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Re: New Bandages
Very controversial choice from what I'm hearing. The 139 is a great machine, but still has some issues apparently. Be interesting to hear how this pans out.
stl
stl
Re: New Bandages
Ornge and Canadian Helicopters Income Fund reach agreement in principle
3 Sep, 8:02 PM
TORONTO - Air ambulance service company Ornge and Canadian Helicopters Income Fund (TSX:CHL.UN) have reached an agreement in principle for a three-year renewal of their relationship with the potential of an additional two years, the companies said Wednesday.
The agreement follows a decision by Ornge to purchase 10 AgustaWestland helicopters to replace its fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters owned and operated by Canadian Helicopters.
Canadian Helicopters contract with Ornge was set to expire in April.
Under the new deal, CHL will continue to provide flight operations, maintenance, airworthiness and related support for Ornge's fleet of helicopter for three years, starting April 1, 2009, with a potential two-year extension at Ornge's option.
"We are confident CHL's extensive experience and commitment will assist us in providing Ontario residents with high quality transport medicine services," Ornge president and chief executive Chris Mazza said in a statement.
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Re: New Bandages
Ya the one we've had in Inuvik this summer hasn't gone without it's share of bugs. Be interesting to see a whole fleet of them introduced.Very controversial choice from what I'm hearing. The 139 is a great machine, but still has some issues apparently. Be interesting to hear how this pans out.
stl