Air Evac Lifeteam opens base in Illinois
The base, in Jefferson County, will host an Airbus EC135 aircraft and operate 24/7 coverage across central and southern regions of Illinois
Air Evac Lifeteam, a member of the AirMedCare Network, has announced the opening of a new air ambulance base in Jefferson County, which will provide 24-hour coverage across central and southern Illinois.
The base will host an Airbus EC135 single-engine helicopter operated by a dedicated on-site crew and will serve as a backup for the existing Air Evac Lifeteam base at Mount Vernon.
The EC135 is equipped with a Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turbine engine and has a cruise speed of 260km/h, with a range of 580km and a maximum gross weight of over 2,200kg.
Brian Martinez, Program Director for the new base, said: “This Air Evac base is the first to have an Airbus EC-135 on its certificate.
“The Jefferson County air medical base will serve residents and visitors in central and southern Illinois. This is a regional asset that gives us another safe option and some increased capabilities when other aircraft may be grounded.”
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at AirMed&Rescue. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.