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First responders and healthcare leaders gathered at North Las Vegas Airport as Mercy Air cut the ribbon on its first permanently based, 24/7 fixed-wing air medical base in southern Nevada.
Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony presented the crew with a Certificate of Recognition. He says: “This aircraft is extremely important for the state of Nevada. A lot of places don't even have a clinic, so if people get hurt or have a medical need, they may have to drive three hours to get help. Their life is on the line, and that's why this Mercy Air aircraft is so critical.”
Mercy Air 51, part of Air Methods, joins helicopter bases in Henderson, Pahrump and Mesquite. The Pilatus PC-12 extends operations across Nevada by flying longer distances and through weather that would ground helicopters.
“Today we are not just welcoming a new aircraft, we are welcoming a lifeline, a symbol of speed, connection and hope for our community of Pahrump,” says Ryan Muccio, marketing and outreach coordinator for Desert View Hospital. “This isn't just about a machine, it's about making sure that no matter where someone lives, lifesaving care is always within reach.”
Air Methods area manager Alicia Davis adds: “This aircraft went into service on August 1, and we had our first patient within 15 minutes. That patient had been waiting over a week to get to Phoenix, so it shows why we are here and the need that is in this area.”
The aircraft functions as a flying ICU, staffed with flight nurses and paramedics ready to respond to trauma, cardiac and paediatric emergencies. It carries whole blood and a Zoll AutoPulse NXT device, which allows clinicians to provide compressions and interventions during cardiac events.
Air Methods regional sales director Vanessa Hayflich says: “Mercy Air has been in Nevada for 30 years and has continually invested into the communities it serves. From carrying whole blood to adding the Zoll AutoPulse NXT and now adding this aircraft that can serve the entire region, we continue providing the best for the people of southern Nevada.”
