VSP new Medevac Helicopter

[GROCKSHD]

FYI
Virginia State Police showcase new medevac helicopter | TriCities.com

 

[SCPD]

same excact model as the new Nightingale

 

[brownlab]

I did not know that the VSP was in the Medevac business. Thought most of it was contracted out except for Fairfax Co and Virginia Beach. Anyhow I found a neat little map that lists everybody. Revised March 2011.
http://www.vdh.state.va.us/OEMS/Files_page/Medevac/MedevacResourceInfo.pdf

 

[BoxAlarm187]

I did not know that the VSP was in the Medevac business. Thought most of it was contracted out except for Fairfax Co and Virginia Beach.

Yep, they've been doing it since 1984 actually. MedFlight I initally flew from the helipad at Chesterfield Fire Station 14, and was kept in the bays at night. It later moved to it's current home at FCI (Chestefield Airport). It flies with one trooper/pilot and two Chesterfield firefighter/paramedics.

VSP formerly had a base in Manassas, but it did far more law enforcement missions than it did EMS. The aircraft there did have the only FLIR in the fleet, but the FLIR unit is now based at FCI.

There was once a MedFlight III at Lynchburg that was staffed with a trooper/pilot and Carilion nurses. However, there is now a contracted helicopter from that location.

The private helo business in Virginia has simply exploded over the past decade, limiting the amount of scene missions that VSP is doing now. That being said, they're still the dominate air ambulance provider in the central Virginia area. The amount of patients I've loaded into a MedFlight aircraft versus private aircraft is probably 10:1.

 

[brownlab]

Interesting bit of VSP history, thanks. Here is a question for anyone who might know: When the Fairfax County helicopter is on a law enforcement mission, do they have a flight nurse on board in case they have a Medevac call or do they have a separate crew for those missions? I know they have two or three helicopters but do not know if they keep one or two in service at the same time. Anyone know?

 

[freqhopping]

Interesting bit of VSP history, thanks. Here is a question for anyone who might know: When the Fairfax County helicopter is on a law enforcement mission, do they have a flight nurse on board in case they have a Medevac call or do they have a separate crew for those missions? I know they have two or three helicopters but do not know if they keep one or two in service at the same time. Anyone know?

Yes. And medical calls have priority over police missions even if they are in the middle of a police mission.

 

[tglendye]

Thanks for the info, Taylor. Being in the western part of the Commonwealth, I have only been on a couple of calls where a Med-Flight helicopter was present, but have never dealt with their crew. I was under the impression all on board were troopers.

 

[N4VKF]

Yes, VSP no longer has a helicopter based in manassas. When I called for their help one day they said the closest is now in Richmond. Had to call for USPP eagle because Fairfax 1 was on another mission.

 

[Kumba]

Yes, VSP no longer has a helicopter based in manassas. When I called for their help one day they said the closest is now in Richmond. Had to call for USPP eagle because Fairfax 1 was on another mission.

This probably explains why I've heard MedStar2 buzzing over my neighborhood a lot lately. It's housed at the Maryland Airport in Charles County, MD, and seems to be going on a lot of calls across the river. I even heard it on Arlington's system just a few weeks ago.

Is VA allowed to call for help from MSP/SYSCOM's medevac fleet if needed? The dauphins are speedy things and I imagine Troopers 2 or 7 can get to any site in any of the VA counties along the river fairly easily.