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Flight Team and Aircraft
Flight Team
University Air Care's transport team consists of physicians from The University Hospital
Center for Emergency Care, flight nurses with an average of 10 emergency and/or critical care transport experience, as well as highly
skilled communications specialists, pilots and mechanics. Fewer than 5 percent of all flight programs in the country use transport teams
with a physician on board, making University Air Care's team one of the most qualified in the nation. Recognized as experts in medical
transport, many of the Air Care professionals have presented nationally and internationally and have published research regarding
medical transport.
Flight Nurses
Flight nurses are registered nurses with emergency and/or critical care experience who
specialize in the care of patients requiring air medical transport. University Air Care ensures that we provide the most qualified
flight nurses. Each must have the following qualifications:
- Critical Care/Emergency Nursing Experience
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- Flight Nurse Advanced Trauma Course
- Pre-hospital Care Experience
- Certification (C.E.N., C.C.R.N., C.F.R.N.)
- Employment at The University Hospital
Flight Physicians
In addition to the flight nurse, all University Air Care patient flights are staffed by
licensed physicians in their second, third and fourth years of residency. It is a requirement of the emergency residency program that
all emergency residents fly with Air Care.
Dispatch/Communications Center
The University Air Care Communication Center is located in a centralized location in The
University Hospital Center for Emergency Care. A team of dedicated communication specialists work for Air Care in 12-hour shifts. These
communication specialists are a vital link necessary for every flight.
Although many in this profession are still classified as dispatchers, the University Air
Care communications specialists' responsibilities have expanded to encompass many other facets, including keeping abreast of current
weather conditions, maintaining an efficient data entry system and generating program statistics.
Pilots and Mechanics
The highly experienced helicopter pilots and mechanics are provided by Omniflight
Helicopters, Inc., who operates medical transport helicopter programs across the country. They have more than 40 years of aviation
experience.
Our Aircraft
University Air Care operates two BK117 twin-engine helicopters, each with a cruising
speed of 150 miles per hour. They can travel over 280 miles without refueling. Both aircraft are equipped to carry two patients in
addition to its crew of three: the pilot, a flight nurse and a flight physician.
Navigation Equipment
State-of-the-art computerized radio and Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation
allow the helicopters to operate around the clock. On-board computers provide the pilot with the ability to locate landing areas safely
and approach within 300 feet of a landing site without maps or directions from the ground. The computers also enable the pilot to
determine Air Care's arrival time within seconds.
Medical Interiors
The helicopter interiors are specially designed for medical flights, accommodating
standard medical equipment needed for special cases. The design also accommodates two patient transports.
Patients, life support systems and other equipment can be loaded quickly and easily
through the two rear clam shell doors. Smaller items and crew are loaded through the side sliding side doors. All equipment is approved
by the FAA for flight safety.
Standard on-board equipment includes:
- Cardiac monitor/pacemaker/defibrillator
- Advanced airway management equipment
- Ventilator
- Critical care medications and fluids
- Hemodynamic monitoring
- Medication infusion pumps
- Blood
Night Sun
Both aircraft feature the night sun, or high-powered lights attached to the lower part of
the aircraft, for increased visibility and safety during night takeoff and landing.
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