ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando Health is unveiling a larger, specialized helicopter to transport critically ill children and adults.
At a ceremony on Thursday, an Airbus H145D3 was debuted as the fifth aircraft in Orlando Health’s fleet.
The helicopter is designed to quickly transport patients to Central Florida’s only Level One Trauma Center, Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), along with Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
With a larger cabin and greater lift capacity, more flight nurses and medics can be brought onboard, along with specialty equipment to care for complex and critical patients.
“The back cabin is much larger than our previous models of aircraft. A lot more working room. A lot more capability for us,” Flight Nurse Scott Halquist said.
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The helicopter’s customized medical interior also increases the ease of transporting specialty equipment for children and babies, like neonatal incubators.
Chris Benway’s family attended Thursday’s ceremony to reunite his son with some of the Air Care team who helped save his life.
Last Fall, an Orlando Health helicopter transported then 6-year-old Grayson Benway to Arnold Palmer Hospital after he nearly drowned from a pool accident.
“He fell down and he was unfortunately suctioned to the bottom of the pool and caught by the drain,” Chris Benway said.
Benway is a firefighter and with his son facing a life-threatening situation, he requested air support from the 911 operator.
“We were able to get Orlando Health and Air Care rolling basically at the same time the firetrucks and ambulances rolled in,” he said.
With his son fully recovered, Benway said he was grateful for the quick actions of the Air Care team and happy to see another aircraft added to the fleet.
“It’s a stressful moment and we didn’t know how it was going to shake out,” Benway said. “Knowing he was coming with them, it was a little piece that made you feel a little bit better about it.”
The new helicopter will be stationed in Apopka to transport patients to Orlando and is scheduled to go into service next week.