AOPA urges governor to keep EMS helicopter at Somerset

Some New Jersey residents are apparently more worried about noise than emergencies. After University Hospital in Newark relocated its NorthSTAR (Northern Shock-Trauma Air Rescue) medevac helicopter to Somerset Airport to improve response time for the western part of the state, a group launched a court challenge to prevent the permanent basing of the helicopter there. In September 2007, the New Jersey Supreme Court denied a request to hear arguments to overturn a lower court's ruling that found the helicopter was a "permitted use" at the airport. In a letter to New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, AOPA President Phil Boyer urged him to take action to ensure that the helicopter remains at Somerset. Boyer said a key to this is the construction of permanent facilities so that the helicopter can quickly respond to emergencies.

November 23, 2007