Posted on: Monday, August 2, 2004

Maui air ambulance delayed by paperwork, engine difficulties

Associated Press

Maui County's long-awaited emergency air ambulance service didn't get off the ground as scheduled yesterday.

Problems including lack of proper paperwork and government approvals have pushed back the expected start date to about mid-August, officials said. An engine problem with the helicopter also has delayed training.

"It's not working as fast as we had hoped," said Scotty Schaefer, a paramedic with American Medical Response, who is helping to develop the service.

Schaefer said government officials are working out details on a memorandum of agreement about the helicopter operations. The service also requires formal written approval from the State Health Planning and Development Agency.

The service was expected to launch yesterday after Gov. Linda Lingle in June signed a bill clearing the way for state matching money.

The bill addressed a potential liability problem created by the legislation that approved the air ambulance service in 2003. Lingle had withheld money, saying the state could have faced lawsuits because Kaua'i was not provided with similar service.

Maui County and the state joined in putting up $1.2 million for a lease on the helicopter and to pay for operations and maintenance.

The plan put together by the state will have the helicopter based at Kahului Airport but the emergency medical staff stationed at the Kula ambulance station, with a backup crew at Wailea.

Meanwhile, officials say a rebuilt engine for their helicopter arrived only last week and still needs to be installed.

"I think there's no one that's happy. We all want to do this. Everyone knows how critical this mission is," Schaefer said.