6-Mar-2013 Source: American Eurocopter
Nationwide Children’s Hospital of Columbus, Ohio, has begun its new hospital-based air medical transport program with the purchase of a Eurocopter EC145 from American Eurocopter.
Dubbed “Monarch 1,” the new aircraft was placed into service in February allowing Nationwide Children’s neonatal and pediatric transport team to initiate critical care services sooner. Based at The Ohio State University (OSU) Airport, the helicopter is equipped with state-of-the-art critical care equipment including a combination of nitric oxide therapies and High Frequency Ventilation (HFV) for patients in need of respiratory care, making it the only Ohio transport helicopter offering this kind of respiratory care for neonatal patients. In addition, the helicopter is equipped and certified for single-pilot IFR operations allowing it to operate in a wider range of weather conditions.
“With approximately 30 percent of all neonatal admissions to Nationwide Children’s requiring a drive of more than an hour, the addition of this aircraft allows the hospital’s dedicated neonatal and pediatric transport team to initiate specialized critical care services more quickly,” said Edward Shepherd, MD, section chief of Neonatology at Nationwide Children’s and a faculty member at OSU College of Medicine.
The EC145 helicopter is operated by Metro Aviation and will be used in addition to the existing ground-based and air transport options offered by Nationwide Children’s and MedFlight, the hospital’s current partner for helicopter transport.
“We are proud to be chosen by Nationwide Children’s Hospital for their important service to children in need,” said Treg Manning, American Eurocopter Vice President of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “They had their choice of any aircraft to begin their new hospital-based service and they selected the Eurocopter EC145. It speaks volumes for the quality and reputation of our aircraft and we look forward to a long relationship with Nationwide Children’s.”
Providing operators with multi-mission capability in a medium-class, twin-engine helicopter, the EC145 is powered by two Turbomeca ARRIEL engines. The aircraft’s combination of speed and performance, along with its high-set main and tail rotors, large cabin and rear-loading clamshell doors, has made it the helicopter of choice for a large number of EMS programs in the United States and worldwide.
About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is the U.S. affiliate of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and a subsidiary of EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter is a helicopter manufacturer and markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and para-public helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to hea