Bell 206L4 Based in Dodge City, KS

Midwest Lifeteam of Kansas has made an addition to their aeromedical fleet: an air ambulance in the form of a brand-new Bell 206L4 Longranger.

The new helicopter has a useful load of  2123 pounds with a range of 374 nm. It will carry a pilot and a medical crew consisting of a registered nurse and a paramedic and cover a general area of 100 sm. They will conduct patient transports both from scene-to-hospital and facility-to-facility transfers.

It has less than 91 total hours... and still has that new-vehicle smell.

LifeTeam 22 joins a fleet of four established aeromedical units. The company currently operates two other helicopters, one based in Hutchinson and one in Emporia. It also runs a pair of  King Air C90s, one in Liberal and one in Great Bend that can respond and transport anywhere in the continental US, according to Liberal's Southwest Daily Times.

The new unit is based at the Dodge City Regional Airport in Dodge City. KDDC is owned and operated by the City of Dodge and is served by regional airline Great Lakes Airlines and US Airways.

LifeTeam 22 is currently configured to carry one patient in addition to the crew. The company has future plans to re-configure the aircraft to accommodate an additional passenger such as a patient's family member. It is also fully equipped to handle advanced life support needs of critically ill or injured patients.

The company also has a fourth helicopter in the works that is being brought to company specifications. Its location has yet to be determined as the progressive company plans its next move.

"This will greatly enhance our ability to serve a primarily rural area that has limited medical resources," said Clay Cox, western regional manager. "Time is critical."

FMI: www.midwestlifeteam.com/