STARS air ambulance service intends to expand its service to far northern Saskatchewan communities with the acquisition of a new helicopter.
Funding for the $16 million dollar aircraft and $11 million dollar hangar is being supplied by Potash Corporation and pilot training is underway.
STARS Foundation spokesperson Rod Gantefoer says assuming weather conditions are reasonable, communities in the far north can now be reached.
“The AW can go to La Ronge and back from Saskatoon,” he says. “So if we can pick up fuel along the way, we can go a long way into the north. The key thing is accessibility to jet fuel.”
Gantefoer says the process of installing medical equipment and preparing the new helicopter for service should be complete by the fall.