STARS introduces Airbus H145
By Adreena Harder Times Guest Contributor
Photo Courtesy of Adreena Harder
The development of the H145 started six years ago, when rising costs of maintenance on the current fleet of BK117s became apparent that replacing the 34-year-old fleet was inevitable. What started as a dream for STARS founder Dr. Greg Powell in 1985 with one helicopter and a mission, has now grown to a fleet of 11, covering four provinces across Western Canada, now marking over 40,000 missions flown.
The event on April 18 hosted dignitaries from across Alberta and 25 VIP STARS patients, whose lives were saved by the highly-skilled pilots and medical teams.
The very first patient to be flown to receive emergency medical care was then newborn Kelly Waldron, now 34 years old. She arrived at the event in the new H145.
STARS CEO, Andrea Robertson, shared their latest success with the news that the provincial and federal governments are now stepping in to pledge financial assistance to the new fleets to get them up and soaring. She maintained it is the people in our communities who are the owners of the past and current fleets, because STARS is a non-profit organization funded by the people, for the people.
As the unveiling was taking place in the Calgary STARS hangar, guests heard a whir of helicopter rotors, and it was announced that STAR 1 was on a mission to Invermere, B.C.
Pilot Greg Curtis was honoured at the event, as he reached a milestone of 3,000 missions in his career thus far.
These machines can land in all types of terrain, from the edge of a cliff or beside a river. The next time you look up and see those bright red STARS helicopters, you can know that when life is on the line, these teams are a beacon of hope.
STARS fly an average of 22.5 missions to Wheatland County each year and these missions represent an approximate value of $160,000 in services value, and of greater value yet is the lifesaving hope.