Memorial Hermann Life Flight was founded in 1976. Service began on August 1st that year as the second helicopter air medical program in the country. The founder, James “Red” Duke, M.D., is the medical director for Life Flight and has been since its inception.
To date, Life Flight has flown more than 110,000 patient missions. With the help of EMS, fire departments, law enforcement and community hospitals, Life Flight continues to make history every day.
The name “Life Flight” was created when the service began, and all rights are owned by Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. No one may legally use the name without a license to do so from Memorial Hermann.
The first helicopter utilized on a Life Flight mission was the French-built SA319B, also known as the Alouette. The Alouette served the program well, but was eventually replaced by a newer aircraft, the AS 355 Ecureuil 2, also known as “TwinStar.” The AS 355 boasted many improvements in power, speed, cabin space and stability and was equipped with two turbine engines that greatly improved the safety of operations.
The TwinStar served with Life Flight until the acquisition of the BK117 helicopter. The BK117 was built as a joint venture between Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm (MBB) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The aircraft is particularly special because of its layout, which allows for complete use of the cabin area. It has no structural beams, or pillars, blocking the cabin space, and it also has large rear “clamshell” doors to use for loading and unloading patient stretchers.
With the addition of the BK117, Life Flight was able to conduct many specialized transports, including neonatal transport, intra-aortic balloon pump patients, and double patient loads from the same scene.
Life Flight also operated a BO105 helicopter, also built by MBB. It features dual engines, double patient load capacity and has a high skid configuration to improve safety around the tail rotor.
In 2007, Life Flight took delivery of their first new EC145, the next generation of EMS helicopter. These aircraft are even more capable than the BK117 and offer greater range, speed, and allow for easier double patient transports. See the new helicopters on the aircraft page.
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