Grand Prairie, Texas – American Eurocopter today announced that North Carolina’s Pitt County Memorial Hospital took delivery of two EC145s for its EastCare air medical service fleet. These aircraft will join an EC135 that was delivered at the start of the year and will be located at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville, North Carolina.

EastCare is a critical care air and ground transport service that provides both rapid transportation and advanced medical care to critically ill and injured patients 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The program has been an operator of Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft since the mid-1980s. Previously, EastCare operated BK-117s through a lease program and the EC135 and these EC145s mark the program’s move from leasing to ownership.

“We are very excited to take delivery of these aircraft,” said Rhonda Reeder, the EastCare transport team’s administrator. “The EC145s will complement our fleet and will extend
our range for flights across our coverage area.”
EastCare operates in a range of 150 miles to and from Greenville. Their helicopters are self-contained emergency treatment centers. The program supplements local emergency
services through helicopter and critical care ground unit service, neonatal transport and basic life support transport.

From their base in Greenville, these EC145s will provide the additional range without the need for refueling, while retaining all of the medical equipment used in the BK-117s, as well as double-patient airlift capability, should the need arise.

About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer that produces, markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer in the United States. The company is a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services, and is an affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world. American Eurocopter’s product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. Company headquarters and main facilities are located in Grand Prairie, TX, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, MS, that produces the UH-72A for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter program.