DESERT AIRE - Life-saving in times of emergency has become easier with a new helicopter landing-takeoff pad dedicated at the Desert Aire Airport on Sept. 13.

"Grant County Fire District No. 8 (Mattawa) estimates that in the last five years the fire district has transported 750-1000 injured or ill patients to hospitals in the area. If only a small percentage could have been helped by this new facility then together we could have saved a life," Airport Manager David Strand said during dedication remarks.

Strand noted that Desert Aire-Mattawa is "an hour from everywhere (by car)." He said a helicopter trip to Moses Lake, Othello, Yakima or Tri-Cities should be 15 minutes or less.

"That could be the difference between life and death," he said.

According to Strand, the helipad is not an airport project but a community project. It is a testament to the generous nature of folks in Desert Aire, Mattawa and surrounding communities.

Strand said: "EMT Rich Kummer of Fire District No. 8 once told me, 'Imagine how difficult it is to try to load a critically injured patient into the back of a helicopter at night on the side of a gravel road.'

"What about the pilot who is responsible not only for the patient but the crew? First of all, he has to find the location of the accident, then avoid all obstacles and land the helicopter without lighting. Hopefully there is security on the ground and crowd control is not a problem."

The new landing pad provides a known obstacle-free rendezvous point that is lighted for night and low weather operations. The airport boundary will also provide security for the transport.

"I'm sure the MedStar pilots will appreciate it," Strand said. "Together we can save a life."

During his remarks, Strand related the following story:

"I had the opportunity a couple months ago to announce the starting of construction of the EMS pad, and I mentioned that we were a bit short of irrigation supplies and said if any of the local farmers had extra PVC pipe we would gladly use it in our project.

"After I was finished, a wonderful lady walked up behind me and pulled on my shirt. She put two one hundred dollar bills in my hand and said, 'My husband could have used your EMS pad.'

"For all those hot days that the airport team suffered through digging holes, pulling wire, and spreading rock, all I had to do was think of her. That made it all worth it."

Strand then introduced those people who "worked so many hours so many days." They were Cliff Naser, Ralph Herth, David Kuchera, Mike Wolf, Mike Mulcahy and contractor Kevin Bise.

"Thank you all so much," Strand said.