LifeFlight of Maine upgrades its fleet with two new helicopters

LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only air medical and critical care transport service, has added two new, state-of-the-art helicopters to its fleet. They will replace ones that had been in service since 2004, according to a press release Thursday.

The service flies critically ill and injured patients in three helicopters and one airplane from bases in Bangor, Lewiston and Sanford. LifeFlight also partners with local ground ambulance partners to answer calls via ground when the aircraft are unavailable.

The new Agusta 109 SP helicopters have a greater weight-carrying capacity, more workspace for patient care, and can fly faster than the service’s other aircraft, the release said.

More than 6,000 donors contributed to a fundraising drive for the new aircraft. 

LifeFlight, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, assisted more than 2,200 patients last year and has transported more than 30,000 patients since it was launched in 1998.