Photo of the Week: First U.S. AW169 EMS helicopter fleet in service
The helicopters enable emergency medical transport, still and swift water rescue, search and rescue, high angle rescue and fire suppression/aerial reconnaissance for Travis County, Texas
Calling all EMS photographers! EMS1 wants to see pictures of you in action or training. Submit a photo — it could be selected as our Photo of the Week! Be sure to include your name, department information and some background on the photo.
The first Leonardo AW169 EMS helicopter fleet in the United States is now in service. Travis County’s three helicopters assist rescue efforts in south-central Texas, an area with over 1.2 million people that includes Austin.
STAR Flight, Travis County’s air ambulance operator, performs emergency medical transport, still and swift water rescue, search and rescue, high angle rescue, fire suppression/aerial reconnaissance, and law safety assistance. STAR Flight also transports neonatal, pediatric ICU, and high-risk obstetrics medical teams and patients.
Travis County, part of Texas Hill Country, presents many geographic challenges for rescue crew. Called “Flash Flood Alley,” it is the number one location in the United States for flash flood rescues.
