WINTERSVILLE — High winds and a few clouds didn’t stop STAT MedEvac from putting one of its helicopters into a base at the Jefferson County Air Park as planned Tuesday.
Airport officials and STAT signed a contract for the base on March 24. Effective Tuesday, STAT MedEvac began basing one of its $3.5 million Eurocopter 145 helicopter ambulances at Wintersville, while work progresses on converting the former terminal building into crew quarters and on construction of an adjacent helipad.
Tammy Weaver, coordinator for business relations and development, said the placement of the helicopter means STAT MedEvac will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week out of Wintersville, its 15th base in the region.
“With the helicopter here, we can have a total of four helicopters in Jefferson County in 20 minutes time,” she said.
STAT MedEvac’s helicopters, in their familiar black-and-gold, are a regular sight in the area already, being called in for direct response to major accidents as well as servicing Trinity Medical Center West. The hospital estimates it uses STAT helicopter service between 60 and 70 times a year for direct patient transportation from Trinity West.
Weaver said a flight nurse, a pilot and a flight medic will be based 24 hours a day at the airport. Crews work two 24-hour shifts a week.
Greg Moore, the base site coordinator, said STAT MedEvac’s crews come from throughout the region. He hopes work will be complete in about two weeks on the crew building and helipad. In the meantime, STAT MedEvac’s Wintersville base is working out of temporary space in the Cross Creek Township office building, across the street. Moore estimated work on the crew quarters will cost in the mid-$30,000 range.
While welcoming STAT MedEvac, the airport staff and management have moved temporarily into a nearby construction trailer while the new terminal construction is completed. The new terminal is expected to be ready for occupation at mid-summer.
Weaver said the airport authority and staff have been very cooperative.
“The plan for this base has been in the works for two months. The space was offered earlier, and we decided to take it April 1,” she said. “We have had great support from the airport. Most people would not offer to move out of their home.”
