New Erlanger Life Force Hanger Opens in Cleveland

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (WDEF) – It was day full of excitement for both Erlanger Health System and the Bradley County community as they celebrated the opening of the new Life Force aircraft base in Cleveland.

“For almost 30 years we’ve based the aircraft in Chattanooga at the hospital, but when we established our Winchester base about a year ago, it just makes sense to put the aircraft out where the patients are needed”, said Vice President of Operations and Administrator of Life Force Robbie Tester

Erlanger officials said  the new facility will provide quick and immediate service for those in critical need of medical attention.

This is the 5th addition to the Life Force service.

There are locations in: Winchester, TN, Calhoun and Blue Ridge GA, Cleveland, TN, and Sparta, TN.

“In the past this has been an area where we’ve flown a lot of patients from and so that was one of our reasons for being away from the hospital so we didn’t have to fly from the hospital  out into the field in this area and then have to fly back. Now we’re right here on the ground in Bradley County,” said Clinical Base Manager of Life Force Derek Ball.

The new aircraft cost $600,000 to build.

The new air ambulance will also serve Meigs, McMinn, Rhea, and other surrounding counties.