Minnesota-based healthcare system North Memorial Health is adding two new H135 helicopters to its Air Care programme for the first time. Delivery is expected in late 2022.

“Adding these helicopters to our fleet is the latest step in our long term commitment to create the safest air medical programme possible,” says vice president and chief of ambulance services Scott Sampey. “We are excited about what the addition of this modern technology means in terms of improved safety and advanced patient care for our customers, communities and flight crews.”

Air Care currently operates a fleet of A109s and operates 24/7 out of seven bases, covering territory in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North and South Dakota. Air Care is part of the North Memorial Health system, which started as a single hospital in 1954 and has grown into a network of 26 specialty centres with over 350 care providers and more than 6,000 team members.

“We could not be prouder to support the critical work of teams like North Memorial Health's Air Care programme,” adds Airbus Helicopters air medical segment manager Cyndi Carter. “It's an honour to welcome it to the Airbus family, and we look forward to helping it introduce the proven and reliable H135 to the communities it serves.”

The H135 can be fitted with a wide range of EMS configurations, providing direct access and ample room for patient care. It comes with the lowest operating and maintenance costs of any twin-engine helicopter and is also one of the quietest helicopters in its class. Recent evolutions to the proven H135 include Airbus' Helionix avionics suite and an alternate gross weight further increases the useful load by up to 265 lbs.