On the final day of Heli-Expo 2008, Memphis Medical Center Air Ambulance Service signed a purchase agreement with American Eurocopter for an AS350B3. Memphis Medical Center Air Ambulance Service, known as “Hospital Wing” throughout its six-state service area, will add this helicopter to a fleet that already includes four AS350B3s.
“Hospital Wing has been a Eurocopter operator for 15 years, and we are happy that they have chosen the AS350B3 as their helicopter of choice to serve their missions in Tennessee,” said Marc Paganini, President and CEO of American Eurocopter.
“The Wing” is a non-profit air medical transport consortium of The Elvis Presley Trauma Center, Baptist Health Systems and Methodist-Lebonheur Health Care. Hospital Wing provides inter-hospital transfers as well as emergency scene calls within a 150 mile radius of Memphis. This area includes West Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, and Kentucky. Hospital Wing was formed in July 1986 and has completed 25,000 accident free missions since then.
“The AS350B3 has really worked well for us. Its reliability, performance and cost of operation made it the first choice for us as we standardize our fleet,” said Robert Gordon, Chairman of Hospital Wing.
“The Wing” averages 6 flights a day, or 2100 flights a year, and is one of the busiest programs in Tennessee.
About American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter is the American subsidiary of Eurocopter, the largest helicopter manufacturer in the world, and EADS North America Holdings, the North American operations of EADS, the second largest aerospace and defense company in the world. American Eurocopter markets, sells and supports the broadest range of civil and parapublic helicopters offered by any manufacturer. The product line represents the most cost-effective, technologically-advanced helicopters, ranging from light single to heavy twin, serving all markets and missions. American Eurocopter’s headquarters and main facility are in Grand Prairie, Texas, with a large manufacturing and production facility in Columbus, Mississippi. The company’s first regional support facility, the West Coast Regional Support Facility, is located in Long Beach, California.
