Recommend This StoryRescue service prepares to move
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AirCare Medevac relocating base to Warren County
By Kim Walter -- kwalter@nvdaily.com
FRONT ROYAL -- The Front Royal-Warren County Airport is preparing to be the new base for PHI AirCare 4.
AirCare Medevac, a service of PHI Air Medical, is responsible for local emergency helicopter response. AirCare 4 is currently based at Winchester Regional Airport, but the associated lease concludes at the end of this month, Deputy Warren County Administrator Robert B. Childress said.
Reginald Cassagnol, the Warren County airport's manager, said that AirCare 4 pilots approached the facility last fall, hoping to make the move from Winchester to Front Royal.
"They felt they could better serve the valley if they were located here," he said.
Childress said that Front Royal is more of a central location for the area that AirCare 4 serves. The service covers all of the Northern Shenandoah Valley, he said.
The crew responds to traumatic situations and takes patients to hospitals, Cassagnol said, and often in half the time it would take on the ground.
"We're looking forward to the relocation," he said, adding that a lease has been prepared and is now in PHI's possession. If all goes smoothly, as Childress anticipates it should, a tentative move date of March 1 has been set.
"We certainly welcome the opportunity for income," Cassagnol said.
AirCare 4 has a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week on-call operational crew, so payments will be made on accommodating space, as well as for the large hangar the service plans to rent, Childress said.
Little work has to be done to the airport itself, besides adding some security lighting.
"Not much goes on at the airport at night right now," Childress said, but that is sure to change with the new service addition.
Cassagnol said that he has studied possible future operational issues with the new service, but has developed an accommodating procedure. Additionally, routine safety meetings will be held as a precaution, he said.
"This is will be tremendous for our small airport," Childress said of the move. "We're always trying to grow and develop."
Are the AirCare helicopters painted black?
Really Jacko? Thats your only comment?
This is an awesome thing for Front Royal!! As many times as Air Care is called in to save the lives in this county, this will be an awesome aspect for the local Fire and Rescue agency and hospital.
If it were not for these brave pilots and medics, many people's lives would not have been saved...I say good job!
And Welcome Air Care!
Doubtful you will see much use from AirCare 4 in the county. Most of the time it is off flying WV. Usually you have to settle for the one out of NoVa which is 30 minutes.
Are the NoVa helicopters painted black?
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