New Air Ambulances Part Of A Reported $16.5 Million Upgrade

Carolinas HealthCare System, which owns, leases, or manages 25 hospitals in North and South Carolina, is planning to spend $16.5 million to upgrade its fleet of air ambulances with three new Eurocopter EC135's. The aircraft will be outfitted for medical missions as part of the upgrade.

EC135 File Photo

Joe Piemont, president and chief operating officer of the Charlotte-based health-care system, says the purchases are planned over the next 18 months.  He told the Charlotte Business Journal that to offset some of the costs, the company would attempt to sell its older Bell 430 helicopters for $4.5 million each.  That would reduce the bottom line on the new aircraft to just $3 millon.

Piedmont said the new Eurocopters will reduce overall air ambulance operating expenses for the company by as much as $1.3 million annually.

The paper reports that MedCenter Air's helos made 1700 trips last year, transporting patients from accident scenes to medical facilities or ferrying them between hospitals.

FMI: www.carolinashealthcare.org