• Tuesday-What'sUP December 9 - 06:53 am

Before anyone asks where the snow went, these photos were actually taken a little over a week ago, before the big snows arrived, but I thought this was a very worthwhile story and photos to share...special thanks to Bradley Uren for supplying the photos and the information contained in the notes.

On Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 four members of the University of Michigan Survival Flight team visited the Houghton County Memorial Airport to display its new fixed-wing aircraft, a Cessna Citation Encore CE-560. Aboard the plane were a Survival Flight crew comprised of two pilots from Pentastar Aviation Jeff Heibeck and Steve Miller, Ted Adelmann, RN, EMT-P, Flight Nurse and Paramedic, and Brad Uren, MD, (a native of Hancock, MI), Survival Flight Associate Medical Director and instructor of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Survival Flight is the critical care transport service for the University of Michigan Health System. It operates three twin engine Bell 430 helicopters, that fly in Southeast Michigan to a radius of approximately 200 miles. This includes most of lower Michigan. For longer distances, fixed wing aircraft are used. The new fixed wing is based at the Oakland County Airport in Waterford, MI. All of the Survival Flight aircraft are configured and licensed to operate as ambulances. Through the use of these aircraft, transport times over long distances are cut dramatically compared with ground based ambulances. This is especially important in emergencies, when minutes count, and in cases where critically ill patients cannot be away from the care of a hospital for the time that ground transportation may take.

This new plane had its inaugural flight on October 25, 2009 when it delivered a new heart to a young child. It has flown to the Upper Peninsula three times, to Marquette and Iron Mountain for patient transports, and most recently to the Houghton County Memorial Airport to display the plane. The Daily Mining Gazette covered the visit here: Survival Flight Team Visits the Copper Country.

Survival Flight has conducted over 51,000 flights since 1983. Many of those flights have been to the Upper Peninsula utilizing fixed wing aircraft prior to the new Citation Encore. In addition to the patient transports, Survival Flight has also begun an annual medical conference for nurses and EMTs in the Houghton/Hancock area, first in November of 2008 and most recently in September of 2009. The next conference is scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2010 in Houghton.

U-M Survival Flight provides services to the 48 continental states plus Canada and Mexico, to transport critically ill or injured patients. In addition, Survival Flight supports the University of Michigan Transplant Center's organ procurement team in its efforts to provide over 400 lifesaving transplants each year. Survival Flight flies over 160,000 miles each year and has flown over 4 million miles in the past 26 years.

For more information please go to: Survival Flight.

I would also like to add that my family was very thankful for this life saving service, 2 ½ years ago when my mother was ill. She was flown down to U of M, two times between the end of May and the end of June, only at that time, the fixed wing airplane could only transport the patient, which meant that we had to drive to Ann Arbor to be with my Mom during that critical time. These fine people kept in touch with us by phone, calling several times to let us know they were on their way and when they had safely landed, along with how my mother was doing. With this new plane, they will also be able to take a family member along on the flight, which will be a big stress relief to be right there with your loved one. Thank you Survival Flight team and U of M.

These air flight rescue people are some of the finest! A friend of mine, Kim, is an air flight rescue nurse, when duty calls she is almost at the helicopter before the pilot.

At first I thought that Neil had a new gig.

As I always say "GO BLUE"

What a beautiful story and pictures! How fortunate we are to be privvy to something like this! I know of one person, personally, whose life was saved by taking this plane to Ann Arbor!

REALLY COOL- Way to go Survival Flight Team!

Goodness!! I remember Brad when we were tour guides at Quincy many, many years ago. What a change from a mining background to a medical doctor, but I suppose it's not all that different when you really think about it....

Congrats Brad on your MD and being part of this live saving service!!

Interesting - AirMed International out of Birmingham, Alabama with two aircraft at The famed MAYO Clinic,The Cleveland Clinic and bases in Hawaii, Hong Kong and soon China as well as Birmingham, operates in the same fashion however they have a membership program that will pay for a typical trip with a minium charge of $17,500 for any domestically ranging to returning home from the far East at $150,000 cash up front. A family recently paid $24,000 for a transport from Marquette to Ann Arbor this summer vacationing in Eagle Harbor at the time of the illness.

You don't appreciate this service until you need it. They played an essential role in saving my daughter's life 9 years ago, transporting her by helicopter from Marquette to Ann Arbor. I can't say enough about their thoughtfulness, expertise,and service. Thanks for the photos!
Joni Moore

I too am thankful for Survival Flight. In '94 my daughter was in a headon crash (not her fault) and was flown to U of M hospital by Helocopter. I'm sure they saved her life. The crew even came in and visited her while in Hospital

Awesome story!
Annnnnddddd The Pasty Cam just got a brand new viewer! Abigail decided she didnt want to wait until Dec 20th to start checking out the Pasty Cam... so, at 7:26 am she made her grand entrance. At 7lbs 4 oz and 18.2 inches shes a keeper eh!

Congratulations Mike! Merry Christmas a bit early!

That is great story today Mary thax. And congrats to you Mike another great story :)

Congratulations Mike!

When we were still downstate they had a demonstration for the U of M helicopters at Taylors school on family night. Boy do they kick up some wind when they land! We have now been up here 2 years and are still loving it.

This is a great opportunity to mention the services provided by organizations such as Angel Flight Central www.angelflightcentral.org and the other groups who are part of the Air Charity Network www.aircharitynetwork.org . These organizations will arrange for air transportation for medical situations (non-emergency) based on medical and financial need. The use of the aircraft and the pilots time is donated by the pilot and will help transport for treatment and therapy.

As a pilot, I have had the opportunity to transport several times from the Chicago area. One was going to Mayo Clinic and another to Atlanta. Neither could reasonably make the trip by car. Quite a rewarding day for me.

For those that know family or friends with medical needs or just wish to donate to the cause, these are good organizations that benefit people.

Nice looking plane.

FABULOUS!!! Such WONDERFUL stuff available to us U.P. here.....thank you to all and many, many Blessings!

Although citations are quite slow in terms of jet speeds, that is one
nice looking bird. You can find a lot of old 30 series Lear Jets
outfitted for medical transport as these old Lears are very fast! It's
nice to see CMX has medivac service available when needed. Great
photos!!!

At the receiving end, here in Ann Arbor, it sometimes reminds me of the Jetsons: people & things flying in all the time, choppers landing on the U Hosp roof day & night (fun to watch driving in along Fuller Rd from North Campus or the VA Hosp.) Oh, & the air gets extra busy on Game Days, with blimps & such. Not quite a traffic jam but those flight & med crews don't seem to sit around much. Makes cousin Neil's flying look easy, although I know otherwise. :-)

good job there Dr Brad,

Thought I was looking at your brother Steve for a second there, LOL!