Date: 05 Nov 2003
Time: 12:32
The University of Tennessee (UT) Medical Center's LIFESTAR programme recently took delivery of its second Bell 430. UT began replacing its ageing Bell 412s early this year. After reviewing potential aircraft to meet their demanding mission requirements, which included the need for a long-range twin-engine, SPIFR aircraft able to transport two patients and their specialty teams, LIFESTAR selected the Bell 430.
"UT LIFESTAR was able to stay within their budget by becoming the launch customer for the Platinum Plus programme, a programme where a corporate Bell 430 is configured for EMS at a price competitive with a new light twin product," Bell told air-rescuetek.com.
An important factor in the decision, cited by Englebert (the programme’s director of operations), was the training programme at the Bell Training Academy and the use of full motion simulators at Flight Safety International, adjacent to the training academy. “Training is vital to ensure the safest operations for the type of missions flown in EMS,” he said.