Air-1 helicopter
/ file photo
SYRACUSE -- A proposed contract could help keep the Air-1 helicopter flying.
Lawmakers in the Onondaga County Legislature's Ways and Means Committee want Oswego County to pick up some of the tab for the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department's Air-1 helicopter. Under a contract discussed at Monday morning's meeting, Oswego County would cover the costs for non-medical flights into Oswego County. Non-medical flights include search and rescue operations and other emergencies. The contract would save the sheriff's department about $10,000 per year. Oswego County is interested in the contract, but it still needs approval.
A similar contract is already in place with Cayuga County, which brings in $28,000 per year. Cortland County has also expressed interest, and is expected to follow suit with another contract.
Civil Department Chief John Balloni says these contracts are "the same work we've been doing all along, but now we would be getting paid for it." He says while this contract is only expected to bring in a fraction of the helicopter's $600,000 operating cost, every dollar counts.
The County Legislature has cut funding for the helicopter. The sheriff's department has created a foundation to raise money for Air-1. Also, the Federal Aviation Administration recently approved a carrier certificate for Air-1, which means the county can charge insurance companies for medical flights. That move is expected to cover 30% of the operating budget.
