New York’s Suffolk County to acquire new rotorcraft
The new H145 will be partially funded through a loan of US$7.5 million approved on 2 May
The local government of Suffolk County, in the US State of New York, has agreed to borrow a sum of $7.5 million to purchase a new twin-engine H145 medical evacuation (medevac) helicopter worth $13.1 million.
The money will join an additional sum of $5 million set aside in 2021 for the purchase. Another $600,000 is expected to be raised from the sale of an existing 18-year-old single-engine helicopter.
The aircraft will be operated by the Suffolk County Police Department. The H145 in air medical configuration has space for two stretchers, and several accompanying healthcare professionals.
Speaking to local newspaper Newsday, Legislator Steven J Flotteron, Chairman of the county’s Public Safety Committee said: “In a county of 1.5 million people, with all out bays and oceans, [this helicopter] is really well needed. This is something that the [emergency medical services] community has been fighting for, that we do need.”
In California, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been seeking local government approval to acquire a new helicopter.
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.