Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Tri-State area

RUSHVILLE, ILL. -- The Air Evac Life Team has served the Tri-State area for more than a quarter of a century.

And the air ambulance service said "thank you" to Rushville for creating a concrete landing pad for the helicopter.

"Previously, it was just grass and gravel and it made it difficult to load the patients sometimes depending on the weather conditions," Richard Utter, the chief for the Schuyler County Illinois EMS said,  "And the condition of the ground. During really heavy rain it became apparent that we needed to do something like this to provide a solid work surface to help us transporting people out by helicopter."

When the helicopter flies into a scene to pickup a patient, it's up to the local fire department to secure a landing zone. The helicopter pilot must also make sure there are no obstructions in the area to interfere with the operation of the aircraft. But having this concrete pad in an area near the highway, it's something that makes the pilots job a little easier.

Greg Word is a retired pilot with the Missouri Highway Patrol. He said having a secure landing zone like this helps the entire flight crew.

"Well we know with having a dedicated landing pad we know exactly what we're coming in to. We're familiar with this. We know if there are wires or obstructions that we have to worry about coming in to land," Word said.

The helicopter based in Quincy averages about 30 flights a month. The flight team includes a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic. Some say the helicopter is a flying emergency room and can have a patient to a hospital sometimes within a matter of minutes.

Air Evac has facilities in 26 states and recently opened their 100th helicopter base.