Just over a year ago, Defiance got a new, much larger hospital. Now its first medical helicopter has arrived.

A helicopter from ProMedica Air of Toledo landed at the hospital yesterday, where flight personnel received training. The new helicopter was expected to be in service as of last night, said Dave Carter, administrative director of the ProMedica Transportation Network.

ProMedica Health System, which is affiliated with the new $50 million, 200,000-square-foot Defiance Regional Medical Center, already has one helicopter stationed at Toledo Hospital. A third is being planned for northwest Ohio early next year, although Mr. Carter said yesterday that the location has not been decided.

The addition of two ProMedica helicopters will bring northwest Ohio s total number of medical helicopters to seven, the largest number of medical helicopters in the state. Life Flight, a rival medical helicopter service jointly operated by St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center and Medical College of Ohio Hospitals, has four helicopters.

Across the state line in Ann Arbor, the University of Michigan Health System has three medical helicopters and one fixed wing aircraft, spokesman Mary Beth Reilly said.

While officials have disagreed on whether another helicopter was needed in northwest Ohio, Mr. Carter said Defiance was selected after trauma needs were studied in the area.

“Defiance was just standing out as a very obvious place,” Mr. Carter said. “It made a lot of sense.”

Mr. Carter said a team of about 12 people has been trained to work on the BO105 American Eurocopter twin-turbine helicopter, which cost about $800,000. Those who are assigned to the helicopter will be based in Defiance, he said.

In upcoming weeks, Mr. Carter said training seminars with the helicopter will be conducted with emergency responders who work in Defiance and surrounding counties.

First Published December 4, 2003, 1:53 p.m.