WESTFIELD—The Westfield Planning Board voted to unanimously approve plans of an aircraft shelter for one of the city’s newest tenants—an air medical transport company.
On Tuesday the Planning Board unanimously approved the site plan and stormwater management plan for Air Methods, allowing for an aircraft shelter and associated items to be constructed at 89 Sgt. Thomas Dion Way near Barnes Regional Airport.
The control tower and a plane hangar at Barnes. (Photo credit: Dan Desrochers)
The approximately six-acre site will be used to house one helicopter, as well as a three-person crew, with one pilot, and quarters to wait in until requests for the crew come in. According to Rob Levesque of R. Levesque and Associates, the location has an existing metal hangar that will be rehabilitated for these purposes, and there is an existing tarmac, as well.
In addition, Levesque said that the site is not located upon the Barnes Aquifer.
According to Levesque, the helicopter will satisfy the region for emergencies.
In emergency services, helicopters and other modes of air travel may be used to transport patients from locations that are a considerable distance from appropriate medical care, whether for emergencies, facility-to-facility transfers or other situations.
Previously, the Barnes Airport Commission voted to approve a three-year contract with a one-year option with Air Methods in August.
