Millstadt, IL Police Youth Academy Campers Visit St. Louis Downtown Airport

By Carmelo Turdo

A group of Millstadt, IL Police Youth Academy campers and staff visited St. Louis Downtown Airport Tuesday on the second day of this week's summer program. During the morning visit, they were introduced to the airport's Panther 6X6 Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Vehicle by Captain James Hinchey. Other first responder equipment on display included a St. Louis Children's Hospital mobile intensive care unit ambulance and the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, KidsFlight 3, used for long-distance medical transport. Campers discussed aviation career opportunities with a Certified Flight Instructor as they sat in the cockpit of a Diamond DA-20 training aircraft provided by Parks College of St. Louis University and later toured the Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum.

The Millstadt Police Youth Academy encourages the development of responsible young citizens through the cooperative efforts of the Millstadt, IL Police Department, St. Clair County government and neighboring like-minded organizations. Throughout the week, participants interact with a variety of first responders, learn practical life skills and have a lot of fun along the way.             

The Aero Experience thanks all who coordinated Tuesday's airport visit, and we present some views of the morning's activities here:

 

St. Louis Downtown Airport Is Hub of Medical Flights Serving St. Louis Hospitals

By Carmelo Turdo

St. Louis Downtown Airport, with its location just a few miles from some of the nation's best hospitals in downtown St. Louis, has become a hub of medical flights in recent weeks. BK 117B-1 airlift helicopters known as KidsFlight 1 and KidsFlight 2, along with a Pilatus PC-12/45 KidsFlight 3, are based at the airport and serve St. Louis Children's Hospital. Arch/Air Methods BK-117B-2 and Air Evac Life Team Bell 206L-1 Long Ranger helicopters land and refuel after local flights. Last weekend, two flights landed at the airport, and waiting ambulances were used to transport patients to St. Louis area hospitals. On Saturday, a Cessna 414 from Buffalo, New York arrived and later took off to return home. On Sunday, a Cessna Citation flown by Air Ambulance by Air Trek also delivered a patient and later took off. The increase in medical flights to St. Louis Downtown Airport is a tribute to the excellence of St. Louis medical facilities, and the ideal location of the airport.