Monroe County, Florida, to buy new helicopters

The purchase was approved at a BOCC meeting on Wednesday 22 March, and funding will be sourced from a local ‘penny sales tax’.

The new helicopters will replace the program’s existing fleet, which comprises two Sikorsky S76C+ rotorcraft, as well as a back-up helicopter. The aircraft will cost around US$52 million, and are expected to take approximately two years to become operational, including pilot training.

The new helicopters are expected to have cabin space for two adult patients – whereas the existing fleet can only carry one patient per aircraft. It will also reportedly have the range to fly between Dry Tortugas and Miami in a single flight – a distance of approximately 370km.

The BOCC stated that the reason behind the purchase was the difficulty of maintaining the current aircraft, which are ‘more than 20 years old and are no longer in production, making it difficult to find parts when needed’.

Trauma Star is a local air ambulance program operated by the BOCC in partnership with Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Monroe County boasts a complex maritime coastline, including a number of inhabited islands – one of which is home to the county seat of Key West. Consequently, the Trauma Star service offers a vital connection between hospitals and remote communities in the area, carrying out an average of almost 1,400 flights annually – or between three and four flights per day.

Walton County, Florida, announced a partnership with Air Methods to provide air medical services in the area in January.