Page 8 - Volume 14 Number 10

LifeSave, one of the largest independently held air medical services in the nation, operates 13 various models of King Airs as well as Bell 206 and 407 helicopters. It also operates ambulances for patient transfers from the fixed-wing aircraft to the hospital. (Credit: LifeSave Transport)
To better understand LifeSave’s operations, I rode along on a training flight with the crew on a Saturday evening in early August.
Briefing
Arriving at Colonel James Jabara Airport (KAAO) in Wichita, I was greeted by the sight of a stoutly King Air with a Staff of Hermes painted on the tail. Excited to learn more about the operation of a flight, I attended the evening’s shift briefing, in which information pertinent to the night’s possible flights, as well as details for the pilots and medical staff to be mindful of, were discussed.
David Marten, ATP-rated and former military test pilot, was the night’s on-duty pilot and in charge of the briefing. It was a standard affair, discussing the
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weather in the Wichita base’s immediate service area and a rundown for me on aircraft operations, as well as other important details.
Having learned some already on why King Airs are well-equipped birds for the mission, I asked Marten how he felt about the aircraft.
“The King Air’s rugged dependability makes it a perfect fit for the medevac mission,” he said. “We don’t need the fastest, most luxurious airplane, rather we need a utilitarian aircraft offering simplicity of operation, renowned mechanical reliability and a high dispatch rate. The airplane must be ready to go when needed. There is no time to fuss with complicated systems requiring careful handling by pilots and mechanics. The King Air is the perfect load-and-go airplane offering the rugged dependability of your grandpa’s pickup truck. It simply
OCTOBER 2020