The landscape of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in Fort McMurray Alta., is changing. Phoenix Heli-Flight has recently brought home a brand new EC135 T2e, to act as the region’s first dedicated HEMS helicopter.
Delivered from the Airbus Helicopters Canada facility in Fort Erie, Ont., the new EC135 T2e is funded through a collaboration between government bodies and private industry – mainly oil and gas corporations. Through the newly formed Local HERO Foundation, Phoenix Heli-Flight has been pulling in funding to transform from an ad hoc service, to a full time HEMS operator.
“Traditionally being an ad hoc service we didn’t respond to that many calls, maybe somewhere in the range of 40 to 60 calls a year,” said Phoenix Heli-Flight president and operations manager Paul Spring. “Now that they know we’re dedicated we’re their first response on anything more than 50km out or where the patient needs really dictate a helicopter, so we’re seeing a huge increase in our business.”
The stunning paint scheme on the new EC135 T2e is also dedicated to the Fort McMurray region. Painted by renowned airbrush artist Mike Lavalle of Killer Paint, the helicopter features an aurora borealis scene, a nod to the Northern Lights health region where the aircraft will be operating.
“We really thought that having a Northern Lights scene on the aircraft would not only represent the region we’re in, but also what we see on a regular basis in our area,” said Spring. “We are a remote Northern community that gets a lot of Northern Lights.”
Aside from representing the health region, the paint scheme also gives a nod to the aircraft’s night vision capabilities. Spring explained that with only seven hours of daylight in Fort McMurray in the wintertime where their pilots can fly VFR, the aircraft’s compatibility with night vision goggles is already lending to a huge increase in their calls.
In addition to the aircraft’s night vision capabilities, the EC135 T2e will be receiving a wide range of modifications. The aircraft is equipped with Garmin touch screen GPS systems, cargo hooks for Class D operations, and Turbomeca engines. Future modifications will include adding Bear Paws, FDC inlet barrier filters, and from North Flight Data Systems – cockpit voice video recorders, satellite tracking, quick access recorders, and multi-function digital acquisition units.
As to why the EC135 T2e was chosen for this role, Spring listed a variety of reasons. “The aft loading for the patient, the Fenestron gives us the security we want going into confined areas, as well as the low noise footprint. We’re going to be operating at a hospital right in the middle of town in Fort McMurray, we don’t want to alienate the people who live around the hospital.”
The aircraft was also chosen for its performance capabilities. It’s equipped with a digital cockpit, three-axis autopilot, and a powerful CAT-A platform.
“Really it’s a complete package,” Spring said. “It was everything we were looking for to meet the EMS role.”
Once the aircraft is put into the medical role, Phoenix will strip the back cabin of the seating and replace it with a medical kit from Air Ambulance Technology that will transform the helicopter into a full EMS aircraft.
“AAT has an amazing kit we can slide in with a complete fluid tray underneath it, oxygen systems, we have mounts for lifepack, suction, all the devices our paramedics need to have with them,” Spring said.
Phoenix Heli-Flight is currently fully operational with a leased EC135 that will be replaced with the new EC135 T2e this August.
