A helicopter firm in Parksville has landed a major contract to help upgrade and operate BC91裸聊视频檚 air ambulance fleet.
Ascent Helicopters was awarded the $554.4 million contract to supply new aircraft to BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) to deliver helicopter emergency medical services.
91裸聊视频淚t has been a long process and for sure, we91裸聊视频檙e quite excited about it,91裸聊视频� said Trent Lemke, owner of Ascent Helicopters, which have been operating in the Parksville area for 17 years. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a good positive for the area, the community and the province.91裸聊视频�
The Vancouver Island company will be purchasing seven brand new helicopters for the British Columbia-based agency. They will be equipped with improved technology and equipment for operational efficiency.
One rotorcraft will be based here on Central Vancouver Island, in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area, while the other six will be located elsewhere in the province in Prince George, Prince Rupert, Kamloops and Vancouver. The new Leonardo AW169 helicopters are expected to be in service in the fall of 2024.
While the huge contract will bring long-term stabilization to the medium-sized helicopter company, what is crucial for Lemke is the ability to provide safe and efficient air transport of patients to hospitals around the province.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 what it brings to all the communities and to the province and to patient care,91裸聊视频� said Lemke. 91裸聊视频淭hat part is significant. They91裸聊视频檝e been very focused on trying to deliver a good, long-term solution. And I think they91裸聊视频檝e done that. And for the Parksville community you will have two full-time critical care teams and a helicopter based in the area for Parksville. It91裸聊视频檚 the first time that they will have been able to get patients from the Central Island to a major trauma facility in under an hour. That91裸聊视频檚 life-saving for the communities here.91裸聊视频�
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Ascent Helicopters is currently providing air ambulance service on Vancouver Island and in some parts of the Lower Mainland if required. Lemke said they have been extremely busy in the last couple of years, particularly during the pandemic.
91裸聊视频淚t was busier than I think was anticipated,91裸聊视频� said Lemke. 91裸聊视频淭he aircraft is out every day on calls. There91裸聊视频檚 barely a day it doesn91裸聊视频檛 fly. There91裸聊视频檚 no question in my mind that we have saved lives because of the quick response time. We91裸聊视频檝e had some pretty serious trauma situations close to our community where we91裸聊视频檙e getting there six to seven minutes with the critical care team. And we91裸聊视频檙e getting them to Vancouver or down to Victoria in under an hour, which is life-saving. If you can get those patients to those trauma facilities in that kind of period of time it91裸聊视频檚 a game changer.91裸聊视频�
Ascent Helicopters used to be stationed at Qualicum Beach Airport but Lemke said he moved out of there due to noise complaints. They now operate at Industrial Park on Springhill Road in Parksville.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 actually kind of sad,91裸聊视频� said Lemke. 91裸聊视频淓verybody appreciates the service but trying to find locations to work out of is difficult. Everybody likes to be saved by a helicopter but no one wants to be near a helicopter in our community.91裸聊视频�
Lemke said they will be looking for a location to build the facility for the new ambulance aircraft here on Vancouver Island.
91裸聊视频淲hether that91裸聊视频檚 going to be here in the Parksville community or if we have to go further down the road, we91裸聊视频檙e not entirely sure yet,91裸聊视频� said Lemke. 91裸聊视频淏ut we91裸聊视频檙e just trying to see where we91裸聊视频檒l be most welcomed and where we can operate out of.91裸聊视频�
