Province moves to add two LifeFlight helicopters to EHS services
Posted Dec 8, 2016 03:44:55 PM.
Last Updated Dec 8, 2016 03:46:23 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – The province says it’s close to wrapping up a deal to obtain two helicopters for its emergency LifeFlight service.
Health minister Leo Glavine said the addition of the two Sikorsky 76 C+ helicopters will help increase the province’s EHS response times from 80 percent to 98 percent.
The province is wrapping up negotiations to amend the existing contract with its current LifeFlight helicopter provider, Canadian Helicopters Limited, to provide the two helicopters.
Glavine said the final costs will be revealed once an agreement is signed, and adds they expect the helicopters to arrive quickly.
“We’re getting very a similar aircraft to what we currently have, meaning a much shorter training period. We’re aiming for six months,” said Glavine.
The province’s current LifeFlight S-76 A helicopter was banned from landing on helipads in April after changes in Transport Canada regulations.
The ban forced the helicopter to land at the Point Pleasant Park helipad in Halifax, and at the Digby airport.
According to the province, the new helicopters will not have this issue, as Transport Canada approved the S-76 C+ to land on H1 helipads across the country.
