A budget amendment to resume a Virginia State Police (VSP) helicopter in the Lynchburg region was introduced in the General Assembly. The helicopter region would cover the Farmville area, resulting in a show of support from area first responders. The helicopter transports patients during emergency situations.

The amendment to resume the Med-Flight III operations was introduced by State Sen. Steve Newman, who represents District 23, covering Botetourt County, Craig County, and Roanoke County and parts of Bedford County, Campbell County, Roanoke County and Lynchburg.

The proposed amendment would provide $137,000 in the first year and $3.7 million in the second year from the general fund for the Department of State Police to resume Medflight III operations from its base in Lynchburg.

According to the VSP website, the Med-Flight III program, established in 2000, closed in 2010 and is only used for law enforcement situations.

“The Department of State Police shall resume Med-flight III operations from its base in Lynchburg,” the proposed amendment cited. “Included within the appropriation for this item is $137,455 in the first year and $549,780 in the second year from the general fund for the costs of four helicopter pilots to operate the Medflight III helicopter.”

The second year funding includes funding for the aviation pilots, as well as an amount for the estimated annual debt service on the lease of a helicopter through the Master Equipment Leasing Program, the amendment cited.

The appropriation would also include $1,205,324 in the second year from the general fund, which would provided to the City of Lynchburg to fund paramedics and equipment to provide med-flight operations.

The amendment cites that the Department of State Police would report annually on its med-flight activities for each of its three helicopters by Oct. 30 of each year.

“The Department shall also study the steps necessary to contract with insurance providers for reimbursement of expenses and report on those steps and the estimated annual revenue to the Department of Planning and Budget and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and the Senate Finance Committees by Oct. 30, 2020,” the report cied.

LOCAL RESPONSE

The Farmville region currently has a Med-Flight I helicopter that comes in from the Chesterfield County area.

A social media page was developed in support of the amendment, called Friends for the Return of VSP Med-Flight III.

Farmville Town Manager Gerald Spates said the area already receives helicopters that are in service.

“It would give us the capability of having another helicopter available,” Spates said about the proposed amendment.

“We do have Med-Flight that covers Farmville now,” Spates said, referring to Med-Flight I. “This may be a little bit closer. I can imagine whichever one is available will respond.”

“It gives us one more way we can transport patients,” Spates said.

Meherrin Fire & Rescue Chief Trey Pyle said the helicopter and agency transports patients with no out-of-pocket costs required, “which is a huge benefit to this area,” Pyle said.

Farmville Fire Department Chief Dean Farmer said the potential return of the helicopter “would provide another means of access to air transport if needed.”

Upon contacting VSP about the proposed amendment, a representative said VSP does not comment on pending legislation.