Up Up & Away

The unmistakable sound of helicopter rotors permeates the quiet night. Residents who live near local hospitals have learned that sound means a critically ill patient is en route to the best and most appropriate medical care for treatment.

A helicopter transport allows those patients to receive advanced care as quickly as possible.

AirLife, a service of Carle Foundation Hospital and ARCH Air Medical Services Inc., has a new, more powerful helicopter that will improve patient care.

The new BK 117 has dual engines with more horsepower than AirLife's previous helicopter. This allows AirLife to bring along more crew members on summer flights when the air is denser and liftoff takes more power.