Parkview Health acquires AW169
The healthcare provider, based in the US state of Indiana, also announced a new operator for its air ambulance program
US-based healthcare provider Parkview Health has added a new helicopter to its Samaritan Flight Program.
The helicopter, a Leonardo AW169, will be based in the city of Rochester, Indiana, and will replace the existing Eurocopter AS365 N2 Dauphin currently based there, which operates under the name Samaritan 2.
The current Samaritan 2 Dauphin will then be relocated to Parkview’s other base at Fort Wayne, where it will become Samaritan 1.
The current Samaritan 1 rotorcraft – also an AS365 N2 Dauphin – will then be relegated to use as a backup helicopter.
The new AW169 is expected to begin operations later this month.
Parkview Health also announced a new Part 135 operations and maintenance partnership with Fort Wayne-based company Sweet Helicopters.
Sweet Helicopters will replace Parkview’s previous flight operator for the Samaritan air ambulance service, Mercy Health – St Vincent Medical Center.
“This year will mark 35 years the Samaritan Flight Program has been serving our region, and in that time, we’ve seen incredible growth in aircraft safety and operational efficiency,” said Chad Owen, Director of Communications, EMS and Flight Services for Parkview EMS and Parkview Samaritan. “We are excited to welcome the Leonardo to our fleet and know that its advanced capabilities and patient-centered design will further support our caregivers in providing rapid emergency care.”
Meanwhile in Canada, Toronto-based hospital operator Halton Healthcare announced a partnership with Drone Delivery Canada in October of last year.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca is a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. 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.