Louisiana-headquartered air medical operator and completion centre Metro Aviation has welcomed its newest operations customer and a new aircraft; UVA Health's Pegasus programme is upgrading its critical care fleet with an Airbus EC145e. The new aircraft will replace the aeromedical programme's AW109, and will be the first aircraft Metro has completed for the Virginian health system.

Switching airframes is a significant undertaking for any programme, but the team has put its faith in Metro Aviation and the Airbus EC145e as it looks to the future.

“Our flight team plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between community care and specialised services. 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,” says UVA medical transport network manager Jermaine Clayborne.

The EC145e is equipped with Metro's standard medical interior, including the Stryker Performance Manual Load. 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, while the flight-following, push-to-talk radio and live alerts and warnings allow the operational control centre to verify conditions in real-time.

“In addition to completing this new aircraft for UVA Health, we are thrilled to be welcoming UVA to the Metro family,” says Metro co-owner Todd Stanberry. “We are committed to staying true to who we are and only partnering with customers that align with our values and dedication to safety. UVA Health is a great fit for Metro. We've gotten to know its team through various meetings and when it attended our annual LEAD conference earlier this year. We look forward to many years of service to it and to the great people of Charlottesville.”