Jerusalem hospital opens new helipad for emergency medical evacuations

Herzog Medical Center in Jerusalem inaugurated a new NIS 5 million ($1.63 million) helipad this week, providing the hospital with a dedicated facility to receive medical evacuation helicopters and transfer airborne patients directly into the medical complex.

Built by Hatzolah Air, the helipad covers about 5 dunams of land adjacent to the hospital and includes a direct route from the landing zone into the medical complex. It can accommodate several models of rotary-wing aircraft, including the Sikorsky S-76 medevac helicopter.

Hatzolah Air is also building a new operations center for the Jerusalem region next to the helipad, with infrastructure for operations, command and coordination, and additional facilities.

Once fully operational, the center is intended to serve Magen David Adom emergency services, Brook Aviation, Herzog Medical Center, Hadassah-University Medical Center and other entities, helping provide medical evacuation services to residents of the Beit Shemesh and Lachish regions, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Judea and Samaria, and other areas, subject to the required approvals and coordination.

Eli Rowe, president of Hatzolah Air, said the new Jerusalem base will expand the organization’s ability to provide rapid medical evacuation in Israel:

"Our vision is to bring medical assistance to anyone in need, even when distance makes the path to treatment complex. Over the years at Hatzolah Air, we have built the capacity to reach patients around the world; now we are also investing in building local capacity in Israel."

"The Jerusalem base, together with MDA and our partners, will allow us to gradually expand the scope of operations and reach more people at moments when rapid, professional medical evacuation can make all the difference," Rowe said.

Dr. Aaron Adler, director and medical director of Hatzolah Air, said the helicopter will provide more options when urgent transportation needs arise.

"The 'Heart of the Country' helicopter is designed to give us an additional option in the right cases: severe trauma victims, patients suffering a cardiac event or stroke, and cases requiring urgent transfer for advanced care."

"Not every patient needs a helicopter; but when airborne evacuation is appropriate, we want this capability to be available to residents of Jerusalem and the surrounding region as well, in full cooperation with MDA and the hospitals," he said.

Since its launch, the organization has conducted more than 1,800 medical evacuation missions in more than 24 countries, including war zones such as Ukraine and Israel during the Iron Swords War, which began with the Hamas invasion and terror attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.