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CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The province has announced funding for a new $ 13 million Airbus H145 for STARS.
The new helicopter will be just one of five vehicles in the new fleet, STARS seeking to replace aging aircraft used since the 1980s.
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said two of the five are expected to be in the sky across the province this year.
The third will be provided through provincial funding and the last two will be purchased through donations and the sale of the old fleet.
The new Airbus H145 will have updated avionics, deliver more speed, be able to carry more cargo and, more importantly, be more reliable than the current fleet.
President and CEO of @STARSambulance Andrea Robertson speaks after the announcement by the province of funding for a new STARS helicopter of $ 13 million. pic.twitter.com/RhpdfsCXce
– Josh Ritchie (@ 660JoshRitchie) March 16, 2019
Last year, STARS completed more than 1,450 missions in the province, including over 40,000 since its inception in 1985.
"They took me to Foothills Hospital, they put a heart in my heart and I was in my room recovering with my family just after 1 pm. – So I went down at 11:25 am and I was in my room recovering with my family just after 1:00 am – unbelievable, said the former patient of STARS Hank Postma.
Provincial funding for the helicopter will come from the 2018 budget.
To help make a donation to the last two helicopters, click here.
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