Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Created: 01/03/2010 09:08:41 PM PST

UPLAND – The city is preparing its air ambulance transport services for a tentative launch date in February.

The Upland Fire Department is accepting applications for up to four flight nurses and four flight paramedic positions, Fire Chief Michael Antonucci said.

The city entered into a contract with REACH Air Medical Services in June to operate a medical aircraft at no cost to the city, according to city officials.

REACH Air agreed to reimburse the city $75,000 per month for staffing and $10,000 in administrative fees for the first year of operation.

They will also provide the air ambulance, pilots and a mechanic.

Some Fire Department employees have made the cut to possibly fill in overtime shifts on the airship.

“We do have three or four people within the organization that have the qualifications, and we already sent them in November to flight school,” Antonucci said.

The air ambulance personnel positions are considered “limited” because they are contingent upon the county contract.

The airship will be stationed at Cable Airport in Upland and will enter into the county’s system of air ambulances.

It will be the eleventh permitted helicopter in the entire county, some of which are stationed in Nevada.

“The county is divided into flight dispatch zones, and the air ambulance that is closest to the incident in the zone is first priority,” said Virginia Hastings, executive director of the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency.

The county in November approved the city’s request for a permit to operate the air ambulance.

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