Erlanger Health, January 22, 2021 - Since December 17, 1988, LIFE FORCE, Erlanger Health System’s air medical program, has continued to bring innovation to aviation while ensuring operational safety.
LIFE FORCE, in conjuctioin with its aviation partner Med-Trans Corporation recently added a new Bell 407GXi to its fleet of six air medical helicopters.
The helicopter features some of the most advanced aviation technologies, including the Garmin GI000H NXi avionics system for enhanced pilot awareness, a three-axis autopilot, a redundant electrical system, and an enhanced FADEC engine control system.
Also, the helicopter has ballistic windshields to prevent a catastrophic accident in the event of a bird strike.
“We are very excited to add this factory new and more sophisticated helicopter to our fleet. This addition will allow us more enhanced capabilities to serve the critically ill or injured patients and accommodate interfacility transfers,” explained Robbie Tester, Erlanger Sr. Director, and Administrator of LIFE FORCE.
This aircraft will be operating out of the LIFE FORCE 3 base, located at the Tom B. David Airport in Calhoun, Georgia. This base became operational in December 2006 and services the North Georgia and North Alabama regions.
About LIFE FORCE: LIFE FORCE has been providing air medical transport to the Chattanooga region for the last 31 years. It operates six bases in Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina that covers over 50,000 square miles.
LIFE FORCE is nationally accredited and ranked as one of the county's highest-performing air medical programs. On average, LIFE FORCE transports approximately 2,500 patients each year. It is the only air ambulance program in the region that carries ultrasound, blood, and plasma and is credentialed by physicians at Erlanger to perform emergency surgical procedures.
All LIFE FORCE flight nurses and paramedics are board-certified in critical care transport. LIFE FORCE is one of only 5% of the country’s programs that have achieved and maintains this standard.