Mercy Health unveils new helicopter

Mercy Health announced the addition of a new helicopter to the Mercy Health Life Flight Network fleet. This new helicopter is the first AgustaWestland AW119 Koala EMS helicopter – a lighter-weight model that offers more options on landing sites to be closer to where EMS agencies are responding to emergencies, according to Mercy Health. Mercy Health – Life Flight was launched in 1979 and became the first emergency air medical service in the region, and among the first to be established in the United States, according to the release. In the past two decades alone, Life Flight has accomplished more than 30,000 life-saving patient transports in the region. The new air ambulance joins the Mercy Health – Life Flight Network fleet of three Leonardo 109Es, currently in service. "We're excited to grow our fleet with the addition of this single-engine helicopter, which is specifically designed to support our local EMS agencies where they need it most. Its lightweight and rock-solid dependability make it well suited to land in unimproved terrain, including fields, back roads, or anywhere its mission takes it," said Doug Wattoff, president and director of flight operations, Mercy Health – Life Flight Network, in the release. The AgustaWestland AW119 Koala EMS helicopter is equipped with a state-of-the-art Garmin cockpit flight display with full synthetic vision. Its medical interior is specifically designed using the newest superior weight-saving material serving the needs of our highly trained critical care crews and our communities. Mercy Health operates two air and on ground-transport Life Flight bases throughout northwest Ohio. The new helicopter will be housed in Wauseon at the Mercy Health Life Flight Network base located at the Fulton County Airport.