BALDWN – Government and community leaders gathered at the Habersham County Airport near Baldwin Wednesday to celebrate AirLife Georgia 2’s relocation to the county.
The Habersham Chamber of Commerce held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the medical helicopter now based in the former Habersham County Airport Terminal on the airport.
Joe Pardue, area manager for AirLife Georgia, welcomed those gathered, including private sector, public safety and government.
“This is a long time coming,” Pardue said, adding the relocation of the base after a decade at the former Lanier Park Hospital campus in Hall County to Habersham was more than two years in the making.
“It truly is an honor and privilege for us to be part of the Habersham community and work alongside our first responder partners, Habersham County Emergency Services as well as our local hospital partners to really expand critical care to all of Northeast Georgia,” said Marcus Lindsey, regional business development manager for Air Methods. “We’re excited to be here. We look forward to being part of the community.”
Pardue acknowledged the support of Habersham County Emergency Services Director Chad Black and County Manager Phil Sutton for their assistance in making the transition earlier this year possible.
The former airport terminal includes a dayroom, office and sleeping quarters for the helicopter’s three-member crew.
AirLife Georgia 2 provides air medical services 24/7/365 to Habersham and surrounding communities. The base is staffed by 14 crew members, including pilots, flight nurses, flight paramedics and mechanics.
Following ribbon-cutting ceremonies with Habersham County Emergency Services representatives and the Habersham Chamber of Commerce, those attending were able to get a closer look inside the Eurocopter EC130 medical helicopter.
AirLife Georgia is a division of Air Methods.
