UVA Health is the newest operations customer of Metro Aviation

Metro Aviation is welcoming its newest operations customer while also announcing the delivery of a new aircraft.

UVA Health’s Pegasus program is upgrading its critical care fleet with an Airbus EC145e. The new aircraft will replace the program’s AW109, which will be the first aircraft Metro has completed for UVA Health.

“Our flight team plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between community care and specialized services at UVA Health. Equipped with the latest advancements in aviation safety, technology, and the added space in our new helicopter, we are excited to continue providing care to the most critically ill patients,” said Jermaine Clayborne, Medical Transport Network Manager at UVA Health.  “This now includes the ability to fly patients who require an intra-aortic balloon pump or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) life support.”

The new EC145e is equipped with Metro’s standard medical interior, including the Stryker Performance-LOAD that will allow the medical crew to load the Stryker litter into a ground ambulance equipped with the Powered Stryker System.

The aircraft also includes Outerlink Global Solutions’ IRIS combined voice, video, and flight data recorder. The video function and data monitoring are crucial for pilot training. The flight following, push-to-talk radio, and live alerts and warnings allow the operational control center to verify conditions in real time.

Metro Co-Owner Todd Stanberry said: “In addition to completing this new aircraft for UVA Health, we are thrilled to be welcoming UVA to the Metro family. We are committed to staying true to who we are and only partnering with customers that align with our values and dedication to safety.”