A new HALO flagship helicopter was unveiled at the Medicine Hat Regional Airport on Tuesday. Jesse Gill/CHAT News

By Jesse Gill

IN THE COMMUNITY

HALO Air Ambulance unveils new flagship helicopter with better specs

Feb 11, 2025 | 7:48 PM

HALO Air Ambulance revealed a new flagship helicopter Tuesday evening that features better internals for improved reliability and a distinctive orange and blue colour scheme.

It’s the first time in the program’s history that they have had two helicopters available for operation.

The latest aircraft is equiped with higher-performing engines and upgraded classifications that will improve operating efficiency and cut back on downtime — thus saving more lives, officials said.

The helicopter was brought into the program after being used by another medevac operation in the past.

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HALO’s chief executive officer Paul Carolan said having a second aircraft will increase emergency capacity.

“If we were down for maintenance, there was no other option in the area. Having a helicopter come out of Calgary is a long wait, and the people around here deserve better,” Carolan said.

“This is a representation of that moving forward, is we should almost always have a helicopter available,” he added.

“The idea is to have both available. We only will crew one, but just having that assurance that there’s a backup there and ready gives a lot of peace of mind.”

The newest aircraft was designated as HALO-1 and will fly the majority of the missions, with HALO-2 still available for backup when necessary.

It will be rare to have both helicopters out at the same time as HALO’s Alberta Health Services contract requires two pilots to be on the aircraft, officials said.

Carolan said that the branding of their latest helicopter is incredibly important.

“We’ve worked really hard on making sure that our message is consistent and people know who we are,” Carolan said.

“This is an extension of that now. This aircraft will be unmistakable in the sky. There’ll be no question that when you see this aircraft flying.”

The paint job incorporates elements of the south Alberta landscape — from prairies to hills to mountains — and the iconic Medicine Hat Teepee, symbolizing where HALO operates and is based.

“When this aircraft takes to the skies, there will be no doubt — it’s HALO,” Carolan said.

“With its striking accents, this helicopter is instantly recognizable, ensuring that when people see it in the air, they know help is on the way.”

The orange elements appeared to glow in the dark as the helicopter was unveiled with smoke and music in front of an audience of dignitaries, business leaders and supporters.

HALO Air Ambulance has a new helicopter. Courtesy: HALO Air Ambulance

HALO’s training Capt. Ryan Shrives said it’s a fantastic machine for medevac operations, which has increased horsepower in the twin engine of the BK-117.

“It’s a power-related, temperature-related improvement, which allows us, with warmer temperature, just holds its performance, which allows us to get the performance we require for Transport Canada for H-1 helipads in the city centers,” Shrives said.

Carolan said it’s important to have the new aircraft to get to the elevated helipads in more challenging conditions.

“It’ll allow us to go to those more often, so that’s an important step forward,” Carolan said.

“Even though we could land here at Medicine Hat [Regional Airport] and have someone taken by ground to the hospital, we save at least 15 minutes by being able to go direct,” he added.

“That’s a big piece for sure.”

Carolan said the overall footprint financially of the HALO program is unchanged, as this was part of their most recent contract.

“We have an aviation partner who provides the aircraft, the hangar, the pilots, the maintenance,” Carolan said.

“They operate the helicopter on our behalf. And so that’s how this came to be was partnership with them.”

You still won’t expect to see HALO operating for Medevac services in the dark.

Carolan said, although the aircraft and it’s pilots are qualified to fly at night, currently Alberta Health Services doesn’t staff enough people to allow them to have paramedics at night.

“We provide the air ambulance service during the day and then we go offline at night from an EMS perspective,” Carolan said.

“It’s something we would like to work on, but we always have to make sure that it makes sense financially as well. If we were 24 hours a day with EMS, our program costs would close to double,” he added.

“Then we have to rely on our counties and corporate partners and individual donors to make up that shortfall.”

Carolan said that in order to offer 24 hour service, it would take a really comprehensive look at the calls, and the demand for calls.

EMS staff are currently available with HALO from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Carolan added they will continue to grow and build and make the program stronger.

The air ambulance service has flown thousands of missions across southern Alberta since its first in 2007.

HALO responds to emergency medical scene calls, critical care inter-facility patient transfers, search and rescue, fire response, law enforcement assistance and all-hazard disaster scenarios.

— With files from Eli J. Ridder