Forty Years of Flight

The Orlando Health Air Care Team was established in 1984 as Orlando Health’s helicopter ambulance service, and this October, they celebrate 40 years of service!

Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) along with Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children are the only Level One Trauma Centers in Central Florida. The Orlando Health Air Care Team provides critical care and trauma services for every age population. From burns to falls to car accidents to the most common - car versus pedestrian injuries - the flight team is dedicated to saving lives.

In addition to the patient, each helicopter has one pilot, one critical care paramedic and an advanced certified nurse. Each of the four aircraft have state-of-the-art technology to provide safe, reliable transport and the highest level of care available in an airborne setting for critically ill patients.

The team also aids and supports other hospitals located throughout Florida based on medical necessity. The Air Care Team and administrators take pride in staying current with evidence-based
practices at each developmental stage of life, ensuring the same quality of care as Orlando Health, but at an average altitude of 10,000 feet! In addition, the Air Care Team is recognized for its role in public and regulatory advocacy for improving trauma care at the local and national levels.

Air Care received an upgrade as part of the most recent fundraising campaign to redesign and renovate the emergency department and trauma center. Their command center, which handles all of the dispatches for critical flights and patient transport between facilities, received new technology, making it easier for the helicopters and hospitals to communicate. As Central Florida expands and the population grows, this connection over longer distances has become imperative.

Looking ahead, the Orlando Health Air Care Team remains poised to meet the evolving needs of the community. As they soar into the future, we can be confident the Air Care Team will continue to provide exceptional quality care and life-saving services, maintaining their legacy of excellence for many years to come.

By the Numbers

• Began operations on October 13,1984 with one helicopter
• Flown over 40 million patient missions
• Over 2 million accident-free miles
• 4 aircraft program (soon to be five, thanks to philanthropy)
• Team of over 70 men and women
• First patient flight November 17, 1984
• Brand new helicopters in 2015