METRO AVIATION DELIVERS FIFTH EC135 TO CALSTAR

September 18, 2013

Metro Aviation recently delivered the fifth Eurocopter EC135 to California Shock Trauma Air Rescue (CALSTAR). Metro will provide eight EC135’s as part of a comprehensive fleet upgrade and standardization plan for the helicopter emergency medical service.

The Metro Headquarters in Shreveport, Louisiana is becoming a second home for most of the CALSTAR family, but the delivery of the fifth aircraft provided an opportunity for CALSTAR’s Chief Financial Officer Mark Vincenzini to make his first visit to the facility. “Touring the facility and seeing the assembly line, paint, production and avionics was great,” said Vincenzini. “It is an impressive place and I am extremely happy to be partnering with Metro for our aircraft.”

CALSTAR is a non-profit stand-alone operation based in McClellan, California. Each EC135 is equipped with a single external LOX, air pump and medical seating for three. The aircraft will also utilize North Flight Data Systems’ Light Aircraft Recording System (LARS).

“We are approaching 500 hours of operation on the first two aircraft we received from Metro in November of 2012,” said Jim Arthur, Director of Operations. “The EC 135 and Metro’s completion process have proved to be a reliable product that has exceeded our expectations. Metro Aviation is an integral part in helping CALSTAR deliver the safest and most efficient patient care to the communities we serve.”

Metro Aviation is completing all eight EC135’s at its completion facility in Shreveport, LA. The aircraft will replace the program’s older fleet, making it an all-Eurocopter operator.

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