Lee County EMS establish its air ambulance service in 1978 and it was the first county based system in the state and possibly the nation.
Predecessor
1977 – 1978 Lee County Mosquito Control supplied the air ambulance service Air Ambulance Helicopter
1978 – 1989 Bell 206
1990 – present American Eurocopter BO105
2004 – 2009 American Eurocopter EC145
Home Base
1978 – 1990 Page Field – on pad
1991 – 2004 Page Field – in hangar
2004 - 2009 Southwest Florida International Airport
2009 - Present MEDSTAR Operations at Page Field
Work Schedule
1978 – 1993 10 hour shifts / 2 pilot operation
1994 – 1997 12 hour shift / 4 pilot operation
1998 – present 12 hours shifts / 5 pilot operation - 24/7/365 coverage
Operations
1991 - Flight suits and helmets adopted
1994 - Night operations begin
1994 - Ground control operations begin
1994 - Designated landing zones begin
1995 - ARNAV/Global Positioning System implemented
2004 July - MEDSTAR becomes new call sign for air medical transport operations, replacing Air-4
2004 October - MaxViz - Night Vision Enhancement System
2004 December - Two flight paramedics operation
2005 April - Part 135 Certification received
2006 April - All paramedics attain Critical Care Emergency Medical Technician - Paramedic
2006 May - BO105 finished with paint scheme that matches the EC145
2006 Summer - Organization restructured to provide for MEDSTAR Manager / Director of Operations
2006 October - Aircraft Mechanic and Aircraft Maintenance Manager in place
2006 October - Flight Paramedic Supervisor appointed
2007 January - Established MEDSTAR Toll Free Number (1-866-853-9881)
2007 May - Incorporated Draeger Oxylog 3000 multi-parameter ventilator into the operation
2007 May - Chief Pilot in place
2008 September - Critical Care Transport Unit in place
2009 August - Page Field Hangar construction complete - official base of operations
2009 August 17 - MEDSTAR1 (EC145) out of service
2009 September - GlideScope Video Laryngoscope implemented
2010 May - Night Vision Goggle Training completed for all paramedics