Geisinger adds state-of-the-art helicopter to Life Flight fleet

STATE COLLEGE — The Life Flight 2 base in State College is home to the newest aircraft in the Geisinger fleet. The new helicopter, an EC-145, will operate from the University Park Airport.  Designed to provide critically ill or injured patients rapid access to advanced life support care and rapid transportation to critical care facilities, the new helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art features, including:

• GPS tracking capabilities
• Auto pilot capability to fly under instrument conditions
• Increase in take-off weight allowances
• Able to receive up-to-the-minute weather updates
• Night vision goggle certified aircraft with NVG coming in the fall of 2008

“We are very excited about the addition of this new aircraft,” said Jerry Splitt, RN, Program Coordinator for Life Flight, Geisinger Health System, “All of the new features enhance our mission capabilities for the State College region, allowing our flight teams to safely treat and transport the critically ill and injured to tertiary care facilities.”

Geisinger operates four additional helicopters in the Life Flight program. One is housed on the campus of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, a Level One Regional Resource Trauma Center. Other bases include Williamsport Regional Airport, Williamsport; Wilkes-Barre Scranton Regional Airport, Avoca; and, Life Flight 5 base, Minersville.

“The most important benefits offered in the new aircraft are the enhanced safety features,” Splitt added, “The technology will help the crew navigate through marginal weather conditions more safely and the tracking system will ensure that our communications center knows where the crew and patients are at all times.”

The new EC-145 in flight.

PHOTO AVAILABLE: Download a related high-resolution digital image at www.geisinger.org/media

For more information about Geisinger’s Life Flight program, log onto www.geisinger.org and click on the “Our Services” link.

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