(Middle River, MD) – Knowing minutes can mean the difference between life and death, the Maryland State Police Aviation Command is implementing a plan to pre-position the medevac helicopter stationed in Baltimore County closer to where it is most frequently used in Northeastern Maryland during hours of peak mission demand.
Citing an effort to increase service efficiency after a review of helicopter calls for service in the region, Major Mark Gibbons, commander of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command (MSPAC), today announced that “Trooper 1,” the helicopter based at Martin State Airport, will be strategically relocated to the northwestern section of Cecil County during peak mission demand intervals. The MSPAC is dedicated to maximizing the access of first responders to the state’s fleet of multi-mission aircraft. MSP Aviation Command personnel partnered with members of the Cecil County Department of Emergency Services to study trends in requests for service. That study indicated a temporary relocation of specific aircraft may provide a more efficient service to the citizens of Maryland.
This “dynamic deployment” began Saturday, June 25th during Chesapeake City Canal Day when thousands of people attended the festivities. It will continue through Labor Day when a re-evaluation will be done. Trooper 1 will temporarily relocate to either the Water Witch Fire Company Station 7-2 or the Cecil County Paramedic 1 Station on Fridays and Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and Mondays between 7:30 p.m. and midnight. Dynamic deployment will also be considered when intelligence from internal or external customers indicates a surge in activity when MSPAC services may benefit first responders or the citizens.
This is the second dynamic deployment initiated by the MSPAC