HALO-Flight’s fifth aircraft, N665HF, was officially added to the nonprofit’s fleet, bringing enhanced critical care capabilities to rural communities that often face long waits for emergency medical transport.<\/p>\n
HALO-Flight held a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 9th, in Alice. <\/p>\n
The addition of this helicopter represents more than just expanded service\u2014it’s a lifeline for families like Jose Pereida’s, who first encountered HALO-Flight during a critical moment in his son’s life.<\/p>\n
New HALO-Flight helicopter to bring more critical care lifeline to rural South Texas communities<\/p>\n
“Nathaniel, was five days old and he was at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in the ICU. He needed a higher level of care. So the first-time I learned about HALO-Flight is when they were landing in front of Driscoll Children’s Hospital to pick him up,” Pereida said.<\/p>\n
That moment inspired Pereida to volunteer with HALO-Flight. Sadly, his son Nathaniel passed away in 2023.<\/p>\n
“He gave us nine years of smiling and laughing but it was his time to go home and be in heaven,” Pereida said.<\/p>\n
There are countless stories like Pereida’s throughout South Texas. HALO-Flight operates 24\/7, 365 days a year, often transporting patients from small towns to specialty hospitals hours away by ground transport.<\/p>\n
The Alice base alone has demonstrated the critical need for these services in rural areas.<\/p>\n
“In Alice, specifically, this base has flown more than 500 patients this year alone. The folks that live in the area that we serve should feel confident that when (picked) up by a HALO helicopter,” said Travis Patterson, HALO-Flight CEO.<\/p>\n
With the addition of N665HF, HALO-Flight will be able to expand its life-saving service across the region.<\/p>\n
Patterson emphasized that rural communities represent the organization’s primary mission.<\/p>\n
“The biggest need of our service is in rural communities\u2026 That’s 80 percent of our call volume every year, because the aircraft is like a flying emergency room,” Patterson said.<\/p>\n
The new helicopter is outfitted for critical care flights and designed specifically to reach towns that often wait too long for emergency medical help. Officials say N665HF strengthens HALO-Flight’s ability to get patients the care they need sooner, potentially saving lives in communities where every minute counts.<\/p>\n
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