FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ALASKA NORTH SLOPE BOROUGH TAKES DELIVERY OF NEW PC-24 AIR AMBULANCE
Operating at the northernmost region in the United States, the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet provides a crucial life support link for 9,800 residents across nearly 95,000 square miles of harsh territory.
The town of Barrow, Alaska, also known as Utqiaġvik, is located at 71 degrees north latitude. In mid January, the average temperature is –14 degrees Fahrenheit (-26 degrees Celsius), and the sun does not rise completely above the horizon until the beginning of February. To call this a challenging operating environment for any aircraft would be a vast understatement. While most of us may never venture that far from home, on January 14, 2020, Barrow became the new home for this particular Super Versatile Jet.
The 45th PC-24 to be delivered since certification is operated by the North Slope Borough Search and Rescue Department (SAR). The critical mission of SAR is to maintain the well-being of all North Slope Borough residents. SAR provides safe, efficient and reliable airborne response to aero medical evacuation (medevac), search and rescue, and other emergencies.
In addition to the PC-24, which replaces an older light jet, SAR currently operates two helicopters and a fixed wing turboprop aircraft. All are capable of day, night, visual or instrument meteorological flight conditions and are utilized in both SAR and medevac roles. Many flights are operated from snow and ice packed runways with paved, dirt, and gravel bases – conditions the PC-24 was specifically designed for.
Outfitted with tandem LifePort™ AeroSled™ patient stretchers and five attendant/passenger seats, it is the 4th PC-24 to be delivered to date in an air ambulance configuration.
April Brooks, Director of North Slope Borough Search and Rescue, explained why the PC-24 was selected for their critical mission. “The PC-24 is a game-changer when it comes to quickly and efficiently transporting critical patients across vast distances in extremely harsh environments. Its unique cargo door, large cabin, and ability to safely operator from short, un-paved runways make it ideally suited to the needs of the North Slope Borough’s SAR mission.”
At the handover ceremony conducted at Pilatus’ North American completions center in Broomfield, Colorado on January 10th, 2020, North Slope Borough Mayor Harry K. Brower, Jr. was on hand to accept their new PC-24. Brower stated, “We are delighted to begin offering North Slope Borough residents a new level of capability to enhance their safety and well-being. In order to prosper in this region of the world, it is absolutely essential that we are able to provide rapid, efficient, and quality medical care to our residents, and the Pilatus PC-24 will enable us to fulfil that commitment to them.”
Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd President and CEO Thomas Bosshard presented the keys to the new PC24 to Mayor Brower, and commented, “We are looking forward to supporting the residents of the North Slope Borough and the SAR team in their critical missions. We are very pleased to see such high demand for the PC-24 as an air ambulance and medevac platform, in addition to its popularity as a business jet. This is exactly the type of versatility we envisioned when we began designing the PC-24, so it is rewarding for the Pilatus team to see it all coming to fruition now.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Araina Danner, NSB Public Information Officer
Phone: (907) 852-0200 ext. 5221
E-mail: araina.danner@north-slope.org
