Airlift Northwest Adds New Plane and Helicopter to Yakima Base

SEATTLE, March 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Airlift Northwest, a Pacific Northwest air medical transport provider, announces the expansion of its services and capabilities in Eastern Washington with the addition of a state-of-the-art Pilatus PC-12 turboprop plane and a new helicopter to its Yakima base at McAllister Field.

The plane goes into service today, March 21, 2016, and replaces Airlift Northwest's AeroCommander turboprop plane currently in service at Yakima. Since the Yakima base is one of Airlift Northwest's busiest, medical providers in the Yakima area also expressed interest in the new helicopter, which is expected to be in service this May.

"This significant investment in aircraft will expand our services to more Yakima and Eastern Washington patients and communities," said Chris Martin, executive director of Airlift Northwest. "The reliable and versatile turboprop brings the latest critical care technology to our fleet. It seats up to six passengers (one pilot, two nurses, two patients and one family member) and allows us to transfer patients weighing up to 450 pounds."

Martin added that the new helicopter will allow Airlift Northwest to quickly reach places it has not been able to go before, and to better respond to trauma scenes.

"The new plane has a stellar safety record, is certified to fly into known icing conditions, and was designed with amenities and space that allows our team to best care for severely injured patients," said Clare Richert, Airlift Northwest's Yakima base manager.

Airlift Northwest services are accessible around the clock from its Yakima base. It provides vital, life-saving care to both pediatric and adult patients who are often transferred to Seattle for higher levels of care for medical issues ranging from trauma to heart attack and stroke to neonatal care.

Each Airlift Northwest flight is staffed with an experienced pilot and two specially trained flight nurses, certified in cardiac life support, advanced pediatric and adult trauma life support, trauma and critical care nursing care, and neonatal resuscitation.

Airlift Northwest's Yakima-based crew serves patients from Yakima as well as Wenatchee, Sunnyside, Toppenish, Ellensburg, Omak, Moses Lake, Tri-Cities and other Central and Eastern Washington locations. Yakima is Airlift Northwest's second busiest base.

ABOUT AIRLIFT NORTHWEST

Airlift Northwest provides medical transport to critically ill and injured adults and children throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Since 1982, it has provided care during more than 91,000 flights.

Airlift Northwest operates six bases in Washington and Alaska. Its fleet is stationed strategically in Arlington, Bellingham, Olympia, Seattle and Yakima, Wash., and Juneau, Alaska. This affords access to any airport in the continental United States and Canada.

Airlift Northwest is an entity of UW Medicine, which also includes Harborview Medical Center, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, Valley Medical Center, UW Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics, UW Physicians and  UW School of Medicine.

For more information about Airlift Northwest and its AirCare membership program, visit airliftnw.org.

Media Contact: 
Susan Gregg
UW Medicine / Strategic Marketing & Communications
206.616.6730 (office); 206.390.3226 (cell) / [email protected]

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SOURCE UW Medicine