Business World |
March 2015
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the air, after the development of a helicopter
system. Funded primarily by philanthropic
groups, money was raised and two MD 900
helicopters were introduced. Now, WCA
AlStar EMS has grown its presence to in-
clude 150 employees, 23 ambulances on the
street, two helicopters and three ‘fly-cars’
which help to assist the volunteers in the
rural Jamestown, New York market they’re
based out of.
AIRBORNE AID
Making roughly 350 Starflight Medevac
transports a year with its two helicopters;
the program’s initial implementation was
supported by tax dollars and a foundation.
However, as Executive Director David
Thomas explained, in 2011, things changed.
“We went from a Part-91 service, which
meant government run and supported, to a
part-135 service, which meant a for-hire he-
licopter service,” he said. “We purchased two
twin helicopters from the Allegheny Health
Network in Pittsburgh and are now upgrad-
ing what’s inside of them to make them safer
and more productive units.”
Like every piece of technology, aviation in-
novations have evolved, and WCA moved
