During an event at the company’s Delivery Center in Grand Prairie, American Eurocopter celebrated the delivery of the fourth EC145 to Geisinger Medical Center’s Life Flight® program. The aircraft is part of an ongoing fleet replacement initiative as the Life Flight program continues to standardize its fleet on the proven and popular EC145 platform.

“Geisinger Life Flight is one of the leading programs in the country. Their selection and implementation of the EC145 continues to highlight the aircraft’s performance and its acceptance as the platform of choice in the U.S. air medical services industry,” noted Treg Manning, American Eurocopter’s Vice President of Sales.

Geisinger Life Flight has operated Eurocopter aircraft since 1983, when it became the first hospital-based BK117 operator in the world. The BK117 is the successful predecessor to the EC145. In 2005, Life Flight began a fleet replacement and standardization program and, after an extensive review of the helicopters available in the market, selected the EC145 as the helicopter to update its fleet.

“The EC145 has proven itself to our crew and our program as the best helicopter for our program,” said Jerry Splitt, Life Flight Program Manager. “The aircraft gives us the size, performance, reliability and flexibility we need to complete the variety of air medical services we deliver to central and northeastern Pennsylvania. We look forward to placing our fourth EC145 into service and working with American Eurocopter as we continue to update our fleet.”

Following delivery, Life Flight’s newest EC145 will travel to Denver where Air Methods will complete the interior. The aircraft is scheduled to be displayed by Eurocopter this fall at the Air Medical transport conference in St Louis. The new aircraft is currently scheduled to go into service this fall at the program’s Danville, PA base site. EraMED, LLC is Geisinger Medical Center’s aviation partner for the Life Flight program.

Geisinger is an integrated health services organization widely recognized for its innovative use of the electronic health record and the development and implementation of innovative care models, including advanced medical home and ProvenCare (“warranty”) programs. The system serves more than 2.6 million residents throughout 42 counties in central and northeastern Pennsylvania.

Eurocopter press release