Ornge purchases new medical helicopter fleet for $130 million
Client
Ornge
On August 25, 2008, Ornge announced that it was purchasing 10 new AgustaWestland helicopters to replace the current aging fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters owned and operated by Canadian Helicopters Limited (CHL). The total cost is reported to be about $130 million. AgustaWestland helicopters are the most advanced medical helicopters in the world.
The air ambulance program began operations in 1977 and has since grown to include 11 helicopters and 76 fixed wing aircraft. The current helicopters are owned and operated by CHL but under exclusive contract to Ornge. Ornge provides the medical crews for these helicopters. As the existing contract with CHL expires in April 2009, Ornge is in the process of a Request for Information with Pricing for a rotor wing flight service provider.
Ornge operates from a number of bases across the province and performs approximately 18,000 admissions annually. It coordinates all aspects of Ontario's aero medical transport system, the new critical care land transport program, and the authorization of air and land ambulance transfers between hospitals.
Ornge was advised in this transaction by a team from Fasken Martineau that included, among others, Alfred Apps, Mark Sills, Sean Morley, Cindy Heinz, Brent Lewis and Don Weaver.
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