Orlando Health Launches New Helicopter for Children & Adults
Orlando, FL (July 22, 2025) – This week, Orlando Health Air Care officially launched its newest aircraft: a larger, specialized helicopter to transport critically ill children and adults. When it comes to emergencies, every second counts. This new helicopter’s larger size and specialized design enhances the ability to quickly transport both children and adults to Central Florida’s only Level One Trauma Center: Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) along with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. The new Airbus H145D3 is now the fifth aircraft in Orlando Health’s helicopter ambulance fleet.
"Our new Air Care helicopter is incredibly special because our patients are at the heart of this design," said Kelly Nierstedt, president of Orlando Health ORMC and senior vice president of the Orlando region. “The sheer size of this new aircraft makes it a gamechanger. The larger cabin space enhances our ability to transport specialty equipment for both children and adults, and the greater lift capacity means we can travel longer distances for our patients. This helicopter is much more than a shiny new air ambulance: It underscores our commitment to going the distance for our patients when they need us the most.”
State-of-the-Art Helicopter Ambulance
The Airbus H145D3 helicopter is a gamechanger for three key reasons:
- As a larger class of aircraft, the helicopter has increased range to reach critically ill patients faster.
- The helicopter boasts a larger cabin and greater lift capacity which accommodates more flight nurses, medics and specialty equipment to care for the most complex and critical patients.
- The helicopter's customized medical interior increases the ease of transporting specialty equipment for children and babies, like neonatal incubators.
“Our new Air Care helicopter is a vital enhancement to how we deliver life-saving pediatric care when every second counts,” said Justin Williams, president of Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. “It significantly enhances our ability to reach critically ill and injured children faster than ever before, providing them with immediate access to the specialized care they need, no matter where they are.”
The new aircraft is stationed in Apopka – at the ready – to transport children and adults to Central Florida’s only Level One Trauma Center.
“We recognize what our specialty teams need to provide critical care,” said Dustin Pierce, associate chief operating officer of Orlando Health ORMC. “This larger aircraft provides the opportunity to carry additional, specialized equipment over longer ranges. Not to mention it boasts the most advanced navigation technology, adding that extra layer of safety.”
Patient’s Family: “Knowing that Air Care was coming to get him and how quickly we were going to get there, I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”
Chris and Anne Benway stress the importance of fast, life-saving care. Last September, Orlando Health Air Care transported their then 6-year-old son Grayson from Eustis to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital after he nearly drowned.
"Huge thank you to Orlando Health Air Care. We can’t stress it enough," said father Chris Benway. “It goes back to the comfort of knowing that if something more were to happen that day that he was with the right people, coming to the right facility. This is the end all be all where you want to be when something like that happens. And so knowing that Air Care was coming to get him and how quickly we were going to get there, I wouldn’t trade that for the world.”
40 Years of Flight
The Orlando Health Air Care Team first launched 40 years ago. The team services all counties across Central Florida including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Sumter, Polk, Volusia, Brevard, and Marion Counties. Each helicopter has one pilot, one critical care paramedic and an advanced certified flight nurse.
"When we see our patients, it is often the worst day of their lives," said Scott Halquist, flight nurse for Orlando Health Air Care. “It is an honor to be by their side, helping them get the critical care they need to get back home. That’s what motivates me and my team.”
Air Methods, a leader in providing emergency air medical services to the health care industry for 45 years, provides aviation services to the Orlando Health Air Care Team. In addition to answering the call to incidents on-scene, they also provide hospital transfers to other hospitals located throughout Florida based on medical necessity. The team provides care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Handout Video & Photos:
Photos here (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/uc9xi33smmcvbgc4yryg4/AE20n5Iua6pscKpojdw-Ass?rlkey=vlrmt0cz3n6gukmx8gyl6eapr&st=i45stmr3&dl=0)
Media Contacts:
Marlei Martinez, Orlando Health Media Relations Manager
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (407) 308-2243
Adrian McDonald, Orlando Health Media Relations Manager
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (323) 472-1272
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $12 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $1.7 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 23, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter.)
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