Austin-Travis County TX Starflight 1

[x635 4,066]

Austin-Travis County Starflight 1 N392TC

2006 Eurocopter EC 145

Stationed at Brackenridge ER, Level 1 Trauma Center (pad on top, quarters below), which is downtown near the University Of Texas Longhorns Football stadium

3rd helicopter on order, 2nd helicopter base will be opening at location to be determuined

They provide police, fire, EMS, and rescue services.

Check out their VERY cool website: http://starflightrescue.com/

[PFDRes47cue 653]

How much did each one of these helicopters cost? Are these replacing older helicopters?

[helicopper 1,050]

How much did each one of these helicopters cost? Are these replacing older helicopters?

A new EC-145 is in the ballpark of 4-5 million dollars.

Depending on the parent company, it could be a part of a regular replacement program (not unlike the way they replace fire apparatus).

[x635 4,066]

Depending on the parent company, it could be a part of a regular replacement program (not unlike the way they replace fire apparatus).

It's a muncipally operated program (Travis County). The County provides the financing, Austin-Travis County EMS provides the management and staff. And interesting fact, their medical director, who is now a doctor, was a Paramedic in Westchester who may have even worked with Chris192 in a bus.(thanks x307).

They replace them every few years more to keep up with the latest aviation rescue technology. The program is growing, the second helicopter will be staffed and have a dedicated base, the third on order will be a spare but can be staffed immediately if needed. It's currently being considered to staff the third helicopter 24/7 and order a 4th for a spare.

There are a lot of corporate medical aviation EMS companies in Texas due to it's size, but they would NEVER go with a private company, because of the growing concerns of profit over safety, and they do a large scope of things besides just EMS. They were doing swiftwater rescues a couple of weeks ago, and this morning they assisted with a perp search until the PD helicopter could get there. They also have every gadget a helicopter can have, and also have a ground support unit (F-350's) for each helicopter that responds with them.

[WAS967 97]

I believe that same medical director was also several people's paramedic instructor.

[NJMedic 96]

There are a lot of corporate medical aviation EMS companies in Texas due to it's size, but they would NEVER go with a private company, because of the growing concerns of profit over safety, and they do a large scope of things besides just EMS. They were doing swiftwater rescues a couple of weeks ago, and this morning they assisted with a perp search until the PD helicopter could get there. They also have every gadget a helicopter can have, and also have a ground support unit (F-350's) for each helicopter that responds with them.

Funny, in NJ we're going the other way. Diminsh the role of the multi mission NJSP medevac program and let the for profits in.