Paramedic and aviation students at Fanshawe College have a new piece of equipment to help prepare them for the working world.
Ornge, Ontario's air ambulance service, donated a decommissioned Sikorsky S-76A helicopter to the post-secondary institution on Thursday. The chopper will directly benefit nearly 300 students in the paramedic and advanced care paramedic program, as well as aviation students in the college's Norton Wolf School of Aviation Technology.
“With the donation of this aircraft, we know that countless students will have the opportunity to learn and train on a helicopter with a distinguished history. We are hoping that some of these students will aspire to work for Ornge in support of our very important mission serving the people of Ontario and apply what they’ve learned to our operation,” said Rob Giguere, Ornge chief operating officer and deputy CEO.
The donated aircraft was used by Ornge to transport thousands of patients from dire situations to area hospitals in as little time as possible.
In its new life as a piece of college training equipment, the helicopter will be used by paramedic students in simulated exercises to reinforce air ambulance transportation, landing zones, and safe practices during patient transfers. For aviation students, the removed rotor hub and transmission will be new teaching aids.
"This helicopter will be a tremendous asset in reinforcing theory, while providing our students with real-life simulations for better experiential learning,” said Fanshawe President Peter Devlin. “We thank Ornge for its generous corporate commitment, which allows us to attract top-notch students to our leading-edge programs in both of these schools.”
Fanshawe also intends to offer the chopper as a training tool to all community paramedic services, fire departments, and police services in the future.