Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR) and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) took delivery of the first and second of three new Trauma Star air ambulances at the Marathon hangar on Aug. 25 and 26. The Trauma Star program is a partnership between the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners and MCSO. Trauma Star provides flights to mainland hospitals for critical patients in need of specialized care.
On average, Trauma Star provides nearly 1,400 flights annually, with three to four flights per day. According to Sheriff Rick Ramsay, Trauma Star is one of the five busiest air ambulance programs in the United States. The three new Leonardo AW139 twin-engine helicopters will replace the three helicopters in the fleet that are more than 20 years old and are no longer in production, making it difficult to find parts when needed.
“This state-of-the-art aircraft will serve as the flagship of our life-saving fleet and represents our continued commitment to safety, rapid medical care and protecting lives,” said MCFR Chief R.L. Colina.
The new helicopter’s range also enables emergency rescues in the Dry Tortugas, allowing flights to Miami’s critical care centers without needing to refuel en route. Additionally, the capacity allows for two adult patients to be flown in one helicopter at a time, which cannot be achieved with the current aircraft.
The funding for the $52 million purchase comes from the infrastructure penny sales tax, approved by a referendum. The infrastructure sales tax is paid by Monroe County residents and visitors when buying items, not through property taxes.
The second and third helicopters are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. The pilots and crew are continuing training, and the new helicopters are expected to be in service starting in October.
