Kitchener-Waterloo

Air ambulances returning to Kitchener heliport with new flight path

Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital will be serviced by the downtown Kitchener heliport again with a new approved flight path that avoids the construction crane previously obstructing the old route.

Ornge air ambulances have been landing in the region's airport since late June

An ORNGE air ambulance is pictured against a blue sky in this stock photo.
An air ambulance has landed at Upper Canada Mall in Newmarket to transport a patient to Sunnybrook Hospital, said Ornge Air. (Yvon Theriault/Radio-Canada)

The downtown Kitchener heliport used for air ambulance transporting patients in and out of Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital has re-opened Tuesday afternoon, after being closed since late June because of a construction crane that obstructed the flight path.

Mark Karjaluoto, director of communications for Grand River Hospital, told CBC News a new flight path avoiding the crane has been approved by Transport Canada and Nav Canada.

"The helipad is still there, they're just approaching it from a somewhat different angle," he said.

Air ambulances have been using the Region of Waterloo International Airport since late June.

Karjaluoto said now they've gone through the process of developing a new flight route, the next time construction happens it will take less time for a new route to be approved.