That's how one pilot refers to the Eurocopter EC145 helicopter that now calls Avera St. Luke's Hospital home.
And even though it's the most-equipped helicopter the local base has had, it won't be the only new-to-Aberdeen helicopter the hospital gets.
An even newer helicopter is due at the hospital within six months. The current one was used by Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
The helicopters keep getting better and better, especially when it comes to how much weight they can carry, how fast they can fly and what kind of weather they can fly in, said pilot Kassidy Nelson.
And there's one more big thing — significantly more room for patient care, said Travis Struss, base manager and pilot.
"We can provide our standard of care in the helicopter as opposed to trying to do it before we take off," he said.
Previously, patients would have to be stabilized prior to being flown. That meant more time passed before they got to the hospital.
“Simply put, it's a flying ICU,” Nelson said of the new chopper. “In an industry where minutes matter, this new helicopter will allow us to be more efficient, safer, faster … essentially."
Until July 1, Avera contracted with a Texas-based company to provide Careflight services. But the health system made the decision to purchase its own helicopters and put its own employees on the payroll. The shift shows Avera's commitment to Aberdeen and surrounding areas, Nelson said.
The decision was made after the board of directors looked at the overall picture, Struss said.
That included emergency services, how many flights Careflight made and where it could go, liftoff times and a cost comparison between paying a vendor and Avera having its own certified and accredited service.
"They looked at everything across the board and put them side by side to decide what was best for Avera and what was best for the program, what's best for our customers and patients," Struss said.
And just how it'll help is evident in the setup.
“We want to go from ICU to ICU without ever leaving an ICU,” Struss said.
From chest tubes, to lightweight monitors and ventilators, the helicopter is stocked with everything needed to save a life, he said. The navigation system helps while flying through clouds, Nelson said.
The cost of the helicopters was not available.
On average the previous helicopter flew 10 to 15 times per month, said Richelle Braun, communications and public relations coordinator for Avera St. Luke's.
Even though there are stretches when Careflight isn't needed, "we're optimistic of the growth we're going to have, especially a growth in here and in Pierre," Struss said.
That's where Avera's next aircraft base will be based. The hangar is currently being built, but there isn't an estimated timeline for completion, Braun said.
The helicopter now used in Aberdeen will be refurbished and used as a reserve that will be able to float between the bases.
Because all of the helicopters will be set up the same, staff will be also able to float between each base. Pierre will have a fixed-wing airplane, Braun said.
Having a floating helicopter means the Careflight service not having to be down for maintenance, which is completed routinely. So often, in fact, that Struss has never been worried or scared while in the air.
"I trust the equipment and the maintenance completed on that equipment," he said. "I have full faith in the pilot to fly safely."
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©2018 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.)
