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Medi Flight of Oklahoma first to use EC130 for Air Medical Services

OKLAHOMA CITY -- OU MEDICAL CENTER, which owns and operates Medi Flight of Oklahoma, will be the first hospital/air ambulance service in the world to use the custom designed EC 130 B4 helicopters for transporting critically-ill patients. There are only a handful of the newly designed helicopters in use today, but none are used for medical transportation.

The two new EC 130 B4 helicopters will be maintained by Rocky Mountain Air and should be delivered in early 2003. Until the EC 130 B4 helicopters are delivered, Medi Flight will fly black and gold AS 350 B2 Astar helicopters beginning Monday, April 1.

The EC 130 B4 helicopters are 25 percent faster than Bell 206 Long Rangers, the Helicopters Medi Flight has been using for about 12 years. In addition, because the new helicopters have a much longer range, Medi Flight will be able to serve the entire state of Oklahoma from it’s centrally located home base located at OU MEDICAL CENTER, greater enhancing the ability to serve the rural areas of the state. Because of the increased range and increased speed, any person involved in a severe trauma could be transported to OU MEDICAL CENTER, which was named as the state’s only American College of Surgeon’s Level 1 Trauma Center last summer. It is well known that the best chance of survival for an individual considered a level one trauma, is to be treated at a trauma center.

"Because Medi Flight’s home base is located in the center of the state, these helicopters will allow us to go anywhere in the state of Oklahoma, pick up the patient and bring them to our Trauma Center without having to stop to refuel and with much greater speed. In a trauma time is critical and these helicopters will get a critically injured patient to the care needed more quickly and safely," said Brad Taylor, Chief Strategic Officer, OU MEDICAL CENTER. "Because more people will now have access to the state’s only national rated Level 1 Trauma Center, more lives can be saved."

In addition, the new helicopters increased size will also allow OU MEDICAL CENTER more flexibility when transferring newborn infants, who are transferred in large isolet beds, to The Children’s Hospital at OU MEDICAL CENTER, which is the state’s only free-standing pediatric facility.

The helicopter’s unique tail design, called the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor, provides qualities of silence, comfort and safety. The EC 130 B4 is one of the quietest helicopters in the world because of the encased tail system. The helicopter is equipped with an automatic rotor speed system, which adjusts the engine to match the flight conditions. The system insures a minimum noise level at cruising speed. In addition, the EC 130 B4 is its extraordinary cabin visibility offered by its large canopy surface, which allows for safer landing at the trauma scene.

Since beginning operations in 1980, Medi Flight which runs both helicopters and ground ambulances services, has flown over 3.5 million miles and cared for more than 30,000 patients of all ages. On average, Medi Flight performs about 1,200 flights per year. As early as 1977, Medi Flight was transporting critically ill newborns either by fixed wing or ground ambulance. Rotor wing service began in October of 1980, when, Governor George Nigh assigned the program to OU MEDICAL CENTER(Then called the University Hospitals).

During the last 10 years, Medi Flight has transported over 2,200 pediatric patients and almost 2,300 neonatal patients by air.

OU MEDICAL CENTER is the largest hospital in Oklahoma City and is the state’s only American College of Surgeons rated Level One Trauma Center.

Rocky Mountain Helicopters is the world's leading provider of air medical support services. Rocky Mountain Helicopters provides patient delivery services for tertiary-care facilities world-wide through state-of-the-art transportation and patient care systems. Rocky Mountain Helicopters is a recognized pioneer and innovator in the air medical industry.

Eurocopter launched the EC 130 B4 at the HeliExpo In Anaheim, Calf. in February, 2001.

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