Critically ill individuals in northeast Knox County have a new option for transportation to a hospital. On May 18, county officials joined with Rural Metro Fire and the Corryton community to officially open an FAA-certified helipad.
The helipad is adjacent to the Corryton Post Office and the Rural Metro Fire Station No. 33 at 7701 Corryton Road.
Larsen Jay, Knox County commissioner at-large, speaks at the opening. Mayor Glenn Jacobs is at left.
“Knox County came through with funds that the community used to construct the helipad and obtain all the licenses to be FAA-certified,” said Rural Metro Captain Jeff Bagwell. “This will greatly reduce the transport times for critically ill or injured people from the Corryton community to the appropriate hospitals in Knoxville.”
A Lifestar helicopter from UT Medical Center landed on the pad during the ceremony.
Knox County invested $32,000 for the construction on property owned by the community and the Senior Center of Corryton. Jack M. Walker Homebuilders was project manager. See earlier story here.
“Road travel from our furthest rural areas to a hospital for a serious medical emergency can take at least 45 minutes and we certainly need a faster way to transport some of these patients,” said Mayor Glenn Jacobs. “The capability for an air ambulance to land would help that and this location ensures there would always be a place for them to do that.”
Knox County Commissioner Larsen Jay helped push for the funding, calling the project “life-saving.”
The helipad can also be used to assist the Knox County Sheriff’s Office aviation division if needed.