Refurbished helicopter returns to Suffolk police medevac fleet; new $13 million chopper to come

Suffolk County police have returned a newly refurbished medevac helicopter to its fleet after it was grounded for 11 months, and police plan to buy a new $13 million helicopter in the next two years.

Police unveiled the 10-year-old Airbus twin-engine helicopter Tuesday, marking the return of a fully-staffed fleet of four choppers that fly over the county during medical evacuations, pursuits and search and rescue operations.

Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison said the department was able to meet all emergency calls with its aviation unit, but now the department will have a wider reach to respond to calls.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said it was important to get all helicopters operating for the summer, with the refurbished one returning to service at the end of June.

Two twin-engine medevac helicopters landed at a crash in East Patchogue Monday night that airlifted a man and his 8-year-old daughter to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries.

“A medevac is like an ambulance in the sky,” Bellone said. “Flight medics on board can perform lifesaving measures on board, en route to the hospital.”

Suffolk County has ordered a new $13 million twin-engine helicopter to replace one of the department’s single-engine helicopters now in use, to expand its medevac capabilities that includes infrared and high-definition cameras, Bellone said.

The new Airbus H145 helicopter is expected to be delivered to the county in about 18 months.

The Suffolk Legislature also approved borrowing $7.5 million to replace an 18-year-old helicopter in use. The county previously approved $5 million in 2021 and is expected to receive $600,000 on the trade-in of the older helicopter.

The newly purchased helicopter will have space for two medics with the ability to intubate patients and perform other measures, and also a seat for a family member to ride with a patient.

The county's aviation unit makes about 1,200 flights a year and covers more than 900 square miles over Long Island, Bellone said. Suffolk police helicopters made 377 medical transports last year and conducted 467 search and rescue operations. They are the only agency in the county that can transport patients by air from injury scenes.

 A helicopter rescue team rescued an overturned kayaker in January from Moriches Bay. 

Helicopters also aid in the county's shark patrols to canvas the coastline for sharks to alert lifeguards or assist patrol officers in aerial pursuits of suspects, Harrison said.

The department has 14 officer pilots to man the four helicopters with more than 3,000 hours of flight time, Harrison said.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.