A new state-of-the-art helicopter will soar above Pearl River County in order to provide quality care to residents in times of need.

The new Med-trans 2015 Bell 407GX helicopter was supposed to be unveiled to county officials during a luncheon at the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home on Wednesday but due to inclement weather the helicopter couldn’t fly to the hospital.

Tim Damico, base aviation manager and helicopter pilot for the Southeast Mississippi Air Ambulance District, explained that the new helicopter will feature autopilot capabilities, collision and terrain avoidance, weather radar and a communication system that would allow the pilot to communicate with a pilot on the ground, Damico said.

“We will have one helicopter but there will be a backup helicopter just in case,” Damico said.

The helicopter will also carry an additional medical crew member, a paramedic, along with a nurse, on each flight, which will allow SEMMAAD to become licensed at the “highest level of licensure and critical care available,” according to a press release issued by SEMAAD.

The new helicopter will replace the primary Baptist LifeFlight vehicle and Rescue 7, Damico said.

SEMAAD contracted with Med-Trans Corp. and Ochner Hospital to provide the new helicopter for residents free of charge in the district’s nine-county area, including Pearl River County, according to the press release.

Under the new agreement, residents within the district won’t have to pay out-of-pocket to utilize the helicopter beyond what their insurance or other providers will cover, said Danny Manley, Pearl River County emergency management director and fire services coordinator.

“We went from operating our own aircraft to a contract situation that saved us a lot of money with Med-Trans,” Manley said.

Tommie Staten, administrative services director for the county hospital, said this new helicopter service will benefit residents across the county.

“This service assures PRC residents and gives them access to healthcare when they need it,” Staten said.

Recently, SEMAAD mailed a letter notifying residents within the district announcing the new helicopter. Manley clarified that the form that accompanied the letter was optional for those residents who want to receive the service outside the district area. The one-year membership fee is $35 for the entire household.

SEMADD is the oldest continuously running operating air ambulance district in the nation and serves Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jeff Davis, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Stone, and Walthall, according to the release.