HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The president and CEO of HealthNet Aeromedical Services said continued strong partnerships with health systems across the state is evident in continued investments.
HealthNet’s Clinton Burley said the latest investment will finance five new Airbus helicopters that will enable HealthNet to transport more patients.
“Tremendous investment by our owner health systems and it really establishes HealthNet as a continuing leader in not-for-profit air medical transport nationally,” Burley said.
HealthNet, which is owned and operated by Marshall Health, Vandalia Health and WVU Medicine, said the new helicopters, Airbus H135, will replace the existing ones that are currently being used.
Burley said that the cabin on the H135 is bigger the EC13 and will give them more opportunities to help those who need to be flown somewhere else for treatment.
“That will help us carry heavier patients, supply greater levels of critical care services while in flight with patients and generally enhance the service there,” he said.
The new helicopter has a cabin space of 6.1 cubic meters compared to 3.7 cubic meters in the old aircrafts.
He also said that it will add more space for the flight paramedics and nurses on board as well as being able to carry specialty equipment for high risk obstetrics patients. But will also allow them to carry a wide range of patients.
“So, literally from a pre-term infant to an elderly patient we will be able to do more in the new platform,” Burley said.
He said the process to get the new helicopters was a long one. It started with developing a plan with HealthNet’s Board of Directors in which they did so in September 2023. They then went to working on local details and then finally arranging a delivery date for all five city’s that are receiving new aircrafts.
One of the helicopters will be going to the Huntington area in partnership with Marshal Health Network and Airbus, which are the designers of the aircrafts.
Burley said that it’s an incredible time for all involved.
“It’s really an exciting time for our partners at Marshall Health Network and for HealthNet Aeromedical as well,” he said.
Along with having a bigger cabin space, the new helicopters will let them reach and treat patients they have been able to before.
“This allows us to fly in and above the clouds in every one of our helicopters across the state, it gives us the ability to reach patients in more marginal weather and impact the lives otherwise those we couldn’t reach,” Burley said.
He said that once they receive the new helicopters, they will remain and just make upgrades to all 10 of them. Once they all have been delivered, there will be new helicopters to serve the areas in Huntington, Lewisburg, Millwood, Buckhannon and Martinsburg.
The first helicopter is expected to arrive in June.
