Canada-based aeromedical transport provider STARS has added an Airbus H145 helicopter to its Edmonton base as part of a fleet renewal across western Canada.

“Today is about commemorating with our community allies the arrival of a new fleet that will serve patients across Alberta for decades to come,” says president and CEO Andrea Robertson. “With Edmonton being our last base to implement the H145, today is also about celebrating the fact that our ambitious fleet renewal programme is now a reality.”

The milestone event was marked with a celebration in the STARS hangar at the Edmonton International airport that included provincial and municipal government representatives, community partners and allies, STARS executives, board, crew and former patients.

In 2018, STARS unveiled a multi-year capital campaign to renew its fleet of BK117 and AW139 aircraft with new, medically-equipped Airbus H145 helicopters, at a cost of around $13 million each.

“The bulk of our ageing fleet is no longer being built and is becoming costlier to maintain,” says Robertson. “Additionally, independent assessments of the sustainability of our fleet told us we needed to move from two aircraft types to one.”

An extensive review resulted in the selection of the Airbus H145 as the best option for the new fleet. It offers cutting-edge technology, advanced safety features and an updated version of the medical interior found in STARS' existing helicopters.

Thanks to government, community and corporate support, the not-for-profit charity began taking delivery of the H145 helicopters in 2019 and has since flown hundreds of life-saving missions in the new aircraft from other bases.

When STARS starts flying H145 missions from Edmonton this summer, all six STARS bases across western Canada will be operating the new helicopter model, a milestone only made possible thanks to the generous support of donors.

“Our supporters ride along with us on every mission, and now they have helped us build the next STARS fleet,” adds Robertson. “These new aircraft are an investment in our ability to serve the people of Alberta and western Canada for generations, and we're incredibly grateful to the community for helping us reach our goal.”