The Review - Johnson Shows Job Creation Concern

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By Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert

In a continuing attempt to get a handle on how business is faring in Ohio, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson stopped at a couple local operations Monday, including the county airport, where he visited the Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter base.

After meeting with county commissioners, checking out the Beaver Creek Candle Company and the Beaver Creek Wildlife Education Center, the congressman headed out to the airport where he was anticipating a flight on the medical helicopter based there.

The advent of cloudy skies and gusseting winds kept the helicopter grounded, but Johnson nonetheless got the chance to sit inside and have the four-year-old operation explained by staff members.

Also visiting for the first time was Ken Cochran, CEO of East Liverpool City Hospital, which often sees Air Evac helicopters land on the helipad atop the building.

"We're just out talking to various businesses about how they're getting along with job creation," Johnson said about Monday's tour of the county.

He added, "It's not surprising to find a lot of businesses are concerned with federal regulations and over-regulation."

Johnson said 40 percent of businesses are saying the health care law is keeping them from expanding and said he wanted to learn about the challenges facing the businesses he visited Monday, including Air Evac, which the congressman said "is a growing business providing a very vital service."

According to Air Evac Director Matt Handley, the local base averages 25 flights a month, depending upon the weather, noting between 35 and 45 calls for flights are received each month but not all can be answered due to weather conditions.

The base is manned 24 hours per day, seven days per week, with a nurse, paramedic and pilot on duty. The pilot is not a medical person but makes all decisions on whether or not the helicopter can fly on any given day, Handley explained.

All decisions are made with safety a priority, he said.

Handley said all efforts were made to hire local personnel for the helicopter, with just one staff member from Pittsburgh and the rest from this area. A separate modular building houses living quarters for the helicopter personnel as well as office space.

Handley said the company is "pretty high-tech" and has invested a considerable amount of money in the helicopter operation, noting that 250 heart monitors were just purchased as well as night vision goggles for all bases.

"When it comes to patient care and safety, I've never been told 'no' as director," Handley said.

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