A new whirlybird will soon be landing in Punta Gorda:
When your life is on the line, every second counts. Soon, Charlotte County residents will have another rescue tool at their disposal. County commissioners gave Aeromed the green light to base a medical helicopter in Punta Gorda. Currently, there is no medical helicopter based in Charlotte County. In emergencies, helicopters respond from Lee, Hendry and Sarasota counties. Response times take as long as 30 minutes. The new flight crew will share space with firefighters at a station on the airport property. By being in Charlotte County, the chief says the response time should cut in half.