New LifeFlight helicopter coming to Fort Dodge
Aircraft will replace older one
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A new LifeFlight helicopter will be coming to Fort Dodge this fall.
The helicopter now in use will be replaced with a new one called a Bell 429. The new chopper will be faster and provide more room for treating patients.
Its acquisition is part of a fleet modernization effort and Air Methods designed to support critical care transport operations across the region.
The first Bell 429 helicopter supporting LifeFlight operations has arrived in Audubon and is nearing its launch into service. Expansion of the Bell 429 fleet will continue, with Fort Dodge on track for October and Des Moines expected to transition by the end of the year.
For more than 45 years, LifeFlight has partnered with Air Methods, the nation's leading air medical service provider, to deliver rapid critical care transport throughout Iowa.
"These upgraded aircraft enhance patient care by pairing advanced medical capabilities with reliability to ensure every patient transport is completed safely, quickly and without compromise," LifeFlight Manager Chad Nelson said in a written statement. "These advancements will help support our mission statement for years to come."
Designed to support both speed and advanced patient care, the Bell 429 offers a larger cabin configuration that gives flight nurses and paramedics improved maneuverability and better patient access for advanced airway management and other lifesaving interventions during transport. The aircraft also includes an upgraded heating and cooling system to improve patient comfort in flight.
"The Bell 429 is a critical asset for our operation across Iowa," said Air Methods Area Manager Mikele Wissing. "These aircraft fly faster with a cruising speed of up to 170 mph, which minimizes our time to the scene of accidents or medical emergencies, as well as the time to transport patients from one medical facility to another for specialized care."
Equipped as flying ICUs, all LifeFlight aircraft carry the medical equipment, medications and blood products needed to care for trauma, cardiac, stroke, pediatric, neonatal, high-risk obstetric and other critically-ill patients throughout Iowa.