Ornge
Encyclopedia
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
service for the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario)
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario)
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is the Government of Ontario ministry responsible for administering the health care system and providing services to the province of Ontario...
. The provision of ambulance services in Ontario is governed by the Ambulance Act.
Under the Act, the Minister of Health and Long Term Care must ensure “the existence throughout Ontario of a balanced and integrated system of ambulance services and communication services used in dispatching ambulances.”
History
The air ambulanceAir ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
program was established in 1977 to serve remote areas primarily in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
that are inaccessible to land ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
s or that land ambulances would take too long to reach. Ontario was the first Canadian province to provide a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
-based air ambulance system to transport critically ill patients to hospital. Air ambulances are also used to transport medical teams and organs for transplant. A large part of the air ambulance service is involved in serving the aboriginal communities, of which there are approximately 140, in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is a region of the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north of Lake Huron , the French River and Lake Nipissing. The region has a land area of 802,000 km2 and constitutes 87% of the land area of Ontario, although it contains only about 6% of the population...
.
The Ministry operated an air ambulance dispatch centre located in Toronto until Ornge took over and MATC became the Ornge Communications Centre.
Today, the air ambulance program has become an integral component of the larger emergency health system in communities across the Province.
Aircraft Fleet
AgustaWestland AW139
The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium sized twin-engined helicopter manufactured by AgustaWestland. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, it was redesignated the AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project...
helicopters to replace their fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, to be delivered over a period of two years from late 2010. The S-76 helicopters were previously owned and operated by Canadian Helicopters
Canadian Helicopters
Canadian Helicopters , formerly CHC Helicopter Canadian operations, operates 132 aircraft from 43 bases across Canada which provides a broad range of helicopter services to include: emergency medical services, infrastructure maintenance, utilities, oil and gas, forestry, mining and construction,...
, but are now owned by Ornge and operated by Canadian Helicopters. The S-76 helicopters will be serviced by Canadian Helicopters until April 2012.
Helicopters
Eleven Sikorsky S-76Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
s located at:
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (2) - moving to John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in 2011
- Ottawa International Airport (1)- Currently operating with an AW 139 Helicopter
- Thunder Bay International AirportThunder Bay International AirportThunder Bay Airport or Thunder Bay International Airport, , is an airport in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. With 80,591 aircraft movements in 2010 it was the 7th busiest airport in Ontario and the 24th busiest airport in Canada...
(1) - Moosonee AirportMoosonee AirportMoosonee Airport, , is located north-east of Moosonee, Ontario, Canada.The Moosonee Airport was officially opened in May 1970 and a new terminal building was constructed in July 1991, that houses the airport management office and washrooms. There are several small buildings and hangars at the...
(1) - Kenora AirportKenora AirportKenora Airport, , is located east northeast of Kenora, Ontario, Canada. The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft with no more than 15...
(1) - Sudbury Airport (1) - Currently operating with the AW139
- London International AirportLondon International AirportLondon International Airport or London Airport is located northeast of the city of London, Ontario, Canada.In 2009, the airport handled 501,835 passengers, and, in 2010, was the 9th busiest in Canada in terms of aircraft movements, with 141,001. Air Canada, Air Canada Express, United Express ,...
(1)- Currently operating with the AW 139 - Oshawa AirportOshawa AirportOshawa Municipal Airport, , is a municipal airport adjacent to the north end of the city of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Oshawa Airport is one of the major general aviation airports in the Greater Toronto Area It includes two paved runways and instrument approaches...
- Spares - (4)
From the first long weekend of the summer to Labour Day one of the Toronto crews is relocated and based out of Muskoka Airport
Muskoka Airport
Muskoka Airport, , is located south of Muskoka, Ontario, Canada.The airport is classified as an airport of entry by NAV CANADA and is staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency. CBSA officers at this airport currently can handle general aviation aircraft only, with no more than 15 passengers....
for the increased number of trauma calls in cottage country during this period.
Fixed-wing aircraft
As of the end of 2009, Ornge has begun operating its own fleet of Pilatus PC-12NGPilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
fixed-wing aircraft from its bases in:
- Thunder BayThunder Bay-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
(4)
- Sioux Lookout (2)
- TimminsTimminsTimmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
(2)
- HamiltonHamilton, OntarioHamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
(2) - late 2011 / early 2012
Standing agreement aircraft
Additional aircraft are available under the Standing Agreement (as and when required) contract with other operators:- Canadian Flyers International operating a Piper PA-31-350 ChieftainPiper PA-31 NavajoThe Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
from the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal AirportToronto/Buttonville Municipal AirportButtonville Municipal Airport or Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport is a medium-sized airport in Buttonville, Ontario, Canada, within Markham, bordering Richmond Hill and north of downtown Toronto. It is operated by Toronto Airways Limited. Due to its proximity to Toronto's suburbs, there are...
and Piper PA-31 NavajoPiper PA-31 NavajoThe Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
from Dryden, OntarioDryden, OntarioDryden is the second-largest city in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on Wabigoon Lake. It is the smallest community in the province of Ontario designated as a city...
- Wabusk Air operating a Beechcraft A100 King AirBeechcraft King AirThe Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...
from Moosonee AirportMoosonee AirportMoosonee Airport, , is located north-east of Moosonee, Ontario, Canada.The Moosonee Airport was officially opened in May 1970 and a new terminal building was constructed in July 1991, that houses the airport management office and washrooms. There are several small buildings and hangars at the...
- Thunder AirlinesThunder AirlinesThunder Airlines is a Canadian scheduled flight, charter and Medevac airline based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They offer on-demand charter service from bases in Thunder Bay and Timmins.-Fleet:As of June 2009 the company operated:*4 King Air A100...
- Beechcraft A100 King Air; Cessna 208B Grand CaravanCessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
; and Mitsubishi MU-2Mitsubishi MU-2The Mitsubishi MU-2 is one of postwar Japan's most successful aircraft. It is a high-wing, twin-engine turboprop, and has a pressurized cabin.-Design and development:...
from Thunder Bay International AirportThunder Bay International AirportThunder Bay Airport or Thunder Bay International Airport, , is an airport in the Canadian city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. With 80,591 aircraft movements in 2010 it was the 7th busiest airport in Ontario and the 24th busiest airport in Canada...
, Sudbury Airport and Timmins/Victor M. Power Airport
- FlightexecFlightexecFlightexec is an executive charter airline, air ambulance, and aircraft management company that has been serving southern Ontario, Canada since 1979.The company's fleet currently consists of:* 1 Cessna Citation XL;* 3 Dassault Falcon 10/100s;...
at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal AirportToronto/Buttonville Municipal AirportButtonville Municipal Airport or Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport is a medium-sized airport in Buttonville, Ontario, Canada, within Markham, bordering Richmond Hill and north of downtown Toronto. It is operated by Toronto Airways Limited. Due to its proximity to Toronto's suburbs, there are...
and London International AirportLondon International AirportLondon International Airport or London Airport is located northeast of the city of London, Ontario, Canada.In 2009, the airport handled 501,835 passengers, and, in 2010, was the 9th busiest in Canada in terms of aircraft movements, with 141,001. Air Canada, Air Canada Express, United Express ,...
- SkyCare Air Ambulance operating 2 Fairchild Swearingen MetrolinerFairchild Swearingen MetrolinerThe Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
aircraft at Sioux Lookout AirportSioux Lookout AirportSioux Lookout Airport, , is a regional airport based in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, Canada. The airport opened in 1933. It was, at the time, the second busiest airport in North America next to Chicago Midway International Airport...
.
- Air Bravo operating Pilatus PC-12 aircraft out of TimminsTimminsTimmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Sioux Lookout, Elliot Lake and Toronto City Centre.
Aircraft inventory
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Country of Manufacture
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In Service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| AgustaWestland AW139
AgustaWestland AW139
The AgustaWestland AW139 is a 15-seat medium sized twin-engined helicopter manufactured by AgustaWestland. Originally designed and developed jointly by Agusta and Bell Helicopters and marketed as the Agusta-Bell AB139, it was redesignated the AW139 when Bell withdrew from the project...
|
| multi-purpose medium-size commercial helicopter
| 10
| On order for delivery in late 2010
|-----
| Sikorsky S-76
Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
|
| multi-purpose medium-size commercial helicopter
| 12
| contract with Canadian Helicopters
Canadian Helicopters
Canadian Helicopters , formerly CHC Helicopter Canadian operations, operates 132 aircraft from 43 bases across Canada which provides a broad range of helicopter services to include: emergency medical services, infrastructure maintenance, utilities, oil and gas, forestry, mining and construction,...
.
|-----
| Pilatus PC-12
Pilatus PC-12
The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland. The main market for the aircraft is corporate transport and regional airliner operators.-Design and development:...
|
| single engine turboprop
| 10
| owned and operated by Ornge
|-----
| Mitsubishi MU-2
Mitsubishi MU-2
The Mitsubishi MU-2 is one of postwar Japan's most successful aircraft. It is a high-wing, twin-engine turboprop, and has a pressurized cabin.-Design and development:...
|
| twin engine turboprop
| 4
| operated by Thunder Airlines
|-----
| Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
|
| twin engine turboprop
| 2
| owned and operated by SkyCare Air Ambulance