Lutheran Air

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Since 2004, the Lutheran Air flight program has been providing rapid transport and stabilizing treatment for critically ill or injured patients.

The air ambulance program is based at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Each helicopter is staffed 24/7 with experienced teams who treat adult and pediatric patients facing a wide range of emergency medical conditions. Helicopters are stationed in Portland, Wabash and Knox.

The Lutheran Air Flight Crew

Whether it is an accident scene or a hospital transfer, Lutheran Air teams are ready to take the call. In addition to their medical training, crew members are trained extensively in the flight environment and in delivering care specific to air medical transports.

• The crew includes a pilot, nurse and paramedic.
• Crew members are certified in advanced cardiac, trauma life support and resuscitation.
• Lutheran Air pilots have a minimum of 2,000 pilot hours.
• The crew is in constant contact with the communication center, hospital, emergency service personnel on the ground and other aircraft in the area.
• By calling Lutheran Hospital's STAT transfer center, the dispatcher can process helicopter requests and activate the team to action.
• The crew will honor patient/family requests for transport.

Lutheran Air Helicopters & Home Bases

The Lutheran Air fleet consists of three side-loading Airbus H130 helicopters. Each helicopter is stationed at a different base to serve areas in northern Indiana and western Ohio where there are gaps in the availability of immediate air medical transport.

• The helicopters cover a radius of 150 miles from each of these bases:
  • Lutheran Air I - Portland Municipal Airport in Jay County
  • Lutheran Air II - Wabash Municipal Airport in Wabash County
  • Lutheran Air III - Starke County Airport in Starke County
• Each base has an FAA A&P licensed mechanic who maintains the helicopter.
• The helicopters are equipped to care for pediatric and adult patients.
• There are two units of blood, TXA and Balfaxar on each helicopter.
• Lutheran Air helicopters are tracked by our dispatchers using GPS tracking to monitor each aircraft and track times. A GPS computes the estimated time of arrival during the flight.
• Lutheran Air is a member of the Association of Air Medical Services and strictly adheres to safety guidelines.

Scene Safety

Lutheran Air pilots work diligently to ensure patients, medical crews and first responders are safe. The Lutheran Air fleet follows strict compliance to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards and regulations.

The Lutheran Air landing zone should be:

• Paved or a grassy surface area 100 x 100 square feet
• Clear of debris and overhead obstructions
• Marked with flares, lighted cones or emergency vehicles (one at each corner and a fifth on the side from which the wind is blowing).
• Vehicles used to illuminate the landing zone should be placed on the outside of the perimeter
• Secure the landing zone of traffic and bystanders

To ensure the safety of patients, ground personnel and the crew:

• People on the ground should remain a minimum of 100 feet away from the landing zone.
• During takeoff and landing, the helicopter generates winds of approximately 75 mph. Ground personnel must protect patients and themselves from the hazards of flying debris and dust.
• The aircraft should be approached from the front only, as directed by the crew. The tail-rotor area should be avoided, and unauthorized personnel should not be anywhere near the vicinity.
• Crew members are the only ones with the authority to load and unload equipment or open and close the aircraft doors.
• Emergency lighting is essential to the pilot during takeoff and landing. Avoid flashbulbs, floodlights, headlights, etc. to ensure the pilot isn't blinded.