Children’s of Alabama upgrades from Bell 407 to Airbus EC145

The helicopter, an Airbus H145, replaces the team’s previous helicopter, which had been in use since 2012. Jason Peterson, Director of the Critical Care Transport team, says the new helicopter will help the team serve patients more effectively.

“It’s going to mean the most to our patients and our patients’ families,” Peterson said. “It’s really cool that we’re going to have a new piece of equipment and state-of-the-art technologies for our medical crews to operate in. But at the end of the day, it’s going to come down to the ability for our crews to provide excellent care for our patients and their families.”

Transporting patients in bad weather

Among the technological features in the new helicopter are enhanced terrain avoidance systems, weather radar and more. These make it possible for the crews to travel in Instrument Flight Rule conditions – something they previously could not do, being restricted to Visual Flight Rules through the Federal Aviation Administration. Now, the team can transport patients even when the weather is not totally clear. The helicopter also has twin engines, a rolling stretcher and rear-loading capacity. It offers enough space for four crew members in the back by the patient, with a pilot and another passenger in the front.

“It’s very impactful,” Monday Morning Quarterback Club Board Member Jeff Stone said. “Our club is all about supporting the medical needs of children in our community any way we can, and I can’t think of a better way of doing it than through this helicopter.”

Meanwhile, Geisinger Life Flight is also flying a newly refurbished EC145 helicopter.