Wake Forest Baptist Health AirCare and Air Methods Corp. announced today the addition of a third air medical helicopter under the call sign “AirCare 3,” which will be based at Blue Ridge Airport in Henry County.
About 60 gathered observers at Blue Ridge Regional Airport looked into a clear blue sky with anticipation Tuesday as a state-of-the art H130 T2 helicopter, valued between $4 and $5 million, flew overhead and then landed.
They were gathered for a news conference for an economic development announcement, which turned out to be the replacement of the air medical helicopter based at the airport with the new H130 T2, one of the few of its kind in the United States, officials said.
The announcement signals a continuing commitment by Air Methods and Wake Forest Baptist Health AirCare to the three-year-old medical helicopter program based at the airport, and that helps the business and health climate of the area, officials said in public remarks and interviews.
Under the program, Air Methods, whose corporate headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado, provides the helicopter and the air crew, and Wake Forest Baptist Health AirCare provides the medical crew, according to Anthony Raymond, base manager, for Wake Forest Baptist Health/AirCare Critical Care.
Mark Heath, president/CEO of the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp., said the airport is one of the greatest assets and best selling tools economic developers have in trying to attract and expand businesses. Having a state-of-the-art medical helicopter program helps do that because employers are concerned about the health of their employees, he said.
Jim Adams, vice chairman of the Henry County Board of Supervisors, said when the program was announced in 2012, there probably were naysayers who said that it couldn’t succeed. And there were risks, he said, but with risks, there also came rewards.
He told the story of a local resident who survived a massive heart – a “widow maker” -- because he was transported to a hospital by the medical helicopter, which is under the call sign AirCare 3.
Adams said the program has provided jobs, helped the tax base and improved the health care of residents of and visitors to the area.
Raymond said that more than 1,200 flights have been made in the three years of the program.
Jason Davis, managing director of the airport, said more than 40 aircraft are based at the airport, more than 12,000 flights are flown annually, and the airport’s master plan calls for a 1,000-foot extension but funding is not yet in place.
The website of Wake Forest Baptist Health says AirCare 1 is based at the Davidson County (N.C.) Airport and AirCare 2 is based at the Elkin Airport in Surry County, N.C.
It adds, “These vehicles are located to provide the fastest possible response to calls for critical care transportation. AirCare 1 primarily covers south and southwest of Winston-Salem, AirCare 2 covers northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia, and AirCare 3 covers Henry County, Patrick County, Pittsylvania County, Rockingham County and Stokes County.”
After the ceremony, Raymond showed and explained some observers various aspects of the H130 T2, manufactured by Airbus. It has many safety features and autopilot. It carries a variety of medical equipment and supplies.
Raymond said the helicopter can carry one pilot, two medical providers and one patient.