Ornge

Ornge facility in Thunder Bay

An early production Sikorsky S-76A owned by Canadian Helicopters and used in the Ontario air ambulance role in August 2007. The aircraft is in an earlier Ontario Air Ambulance paint scheme

Ornge (formerly Ontario Air Ambulance) - is the air ambulance and ground transportation service for the province of Ontario and for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (Ontario). The provision of ambulance services in Ontario is governed by the Ambulance Act, which states that the Minister of Health "has the duty and the power" to make sure Ontario is serviced by a "balanced and integrated system of ambulance services and communication services used in dispatching ambulances".^[1] Its headquarters are in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The name Ornge is not an acronym, but is based on the colour orange of its aircraft and land ambulances. According to the organization, "The 'a' was removed from the name, partly to make people stop and take a second look, and also so that it could be trademarked."^[2]

History

The air ambulance program was established in 1977 to serve remote areas, primarily in Northern Ontario, that are inaccessible to land ambulances or that land ambulances would take too long to reach. Ontario was the first Canadian province to provide a helicopter-based air ambulance system to transport critically ill patients to hospital. Air ambulances are also used to transport medical teams and organs for transplant. A large part of the air ambulance service is involved in serving aboriginal communities, of which there are approximately 117, in 6 treaty areas of Northern Ontario. ^[3]

The Ministry operated an air ambulance dispatch centre in Toronto until Ornge took over and MATC (Medical Air Transport Centre) became the Ornge Communications Centre.^[4]

Today, the air ambulance program has become an integral component of the larger emergency health system in communities across the province.^[5]

December 2011-February 2013- financial scandal and police investigation

In 2011 Ornge was involved in a controversy regarding executives compensation, including President and CEO Chris Mazza. Mazza went on an indefinite medical leave on 22 December 2011 at the height of the scandal. The Toronto Star uncovered that Mazza was receiving $1.4 million a year while remaining off the "sunshine list" of public employees earning over $100,000. That salary makes him the highest publicly paid official in the province. Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews stated that Mazza’s salary was "outrageous, shocking and unacceptable". Ornge Global, Ornge's for-profit division, also received $6.7 million in a contract from Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, which is also part of the audit by the provincial auditor general.^[6] Ron McKerlie, who was at the time Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Government Services, Associate Secretary of Cabinet and Secretary of Management Board of Cabinet for the Government of Ontario, was appointed as the Interim President and CEO.^[7]

As the scandal spread on 24 January 2012 Ornge fired 18 managers and closed the J Smarts charity program. The next day a new board of directors was named, including former provincial cabinet minister Charles Harnick. A complete forensic audit was also started. On 2 February 2012 Ornge President and CEO Chris Mazza was fired without compensation, as was the chief operating officer of ORNGE Global, Maria Renzella. ORNGE Global GP Inc. and ORNGE Global Holdings LP were placed in bankruptcy under the oversight of a trustee. The bankruptcy move does not affect the provincial air ambulance service, which is operated separately.^[8][9][10]

On 2 February 2012, the Ontario Health Minister Deb Mathews stated, "Today, the for-profit ORNGE Global GP Inc. and ORNGE Global Holdings LP went into receivership, essentially ending their existence. As a result, Dr. Chris Mazza, president and CEO, and Maria Renzella, chief operating officer, have been terminated and ORNGE has advised us that no severance has been offered. These are vitally important and necessary steps needed to restore the confidence of Ontarians in the leadership team responsible for Ontario’s air ambulance service. The forensic audit continues and we look forward to their findings and the auditor general’s value-for-money audit. We continue to seek and support the changes at ORNGE and continue to work with the new leadership as they strengthen Ontario’s air ambulance service."^[10]

On 16 February 2012 Ornge formally became the subject of an Ontario Provincial Police investigation for "financial irregularities". Neither the police, Mathews nor Ornge would provide details about the nature of the investigation. The minister indicated it was as a result of the preliminary findings of the forensic auditors in examining the organization's financial records. Aside from the police investigation there are two other investigations underway. The Ministry of Health's emergency health services branch is carrying out an investigation of 13 incidents related to air ambulance operations, three of which involve the deaths of patients. Also provincial Auditor General Jim McCarter is investigating Ornge and will present his final report in March 2012.^[11]

On 17 February 2012, amidst calls for her resignation from the opposition, Ontario Health Minister, Deb Mathews announced that the government would greatly tighten control over Ornge, including new legislation and a new performance agreement to increase oversight and limit what it can do without government approval, including preventing the sale of assets, such as helicopters and the taking on of debt.^[11]

On 23 February 2012 allegations surfaced of unqualified staff running the air ambulance service and of a questionable $14,000 payout to a Brazilian law firm by an Ornge spin-off company. More information became available about the nature of the OPP investigation, including that the subject is alleged kick-back payments for helicopter purchases as well as interest-free loans and cash advances from Ornge to Mazza. Filed bankruptcy documents indicate that Mazza is a creditor of one of Ornge's now-defunct for-profit companies and that he is owed $1 in the proceedings. The opposition continued calls for the minister's resignation as news of medevac operation disruptions in recent weeks surfaced.^[12]

On 21 March 2012 provincial Auditor General Jim McCarter released a report that heavily criticized the provincial government for lack of oversight of Ornge's operations. The report details that the government paid Ornge C$700 million over five years and that Ornge also borrowed an additional C$300 million for aircraft purchases. The report details how air ambulance costs increased 20% while transporting 6% fewer patients. McCarter reported how Ornge, "soon begame a mini-conglomerate" with virtually no government supervision. He stated, "Of particular concern to us was the fact that certain of these companies were owned by Ornge's president, senior members of its management team and its board of directors. To the nose of this watchdog, this didn't pass the smell test." The report also details how Ornge bought more aircraft than it needed with government money with the aim of renting them out. Health Minister Deb Matthews said that the province will act on all of McCarter's recommendations.^[13]

On 9 February 2013 Dr. Chris Mazza received $4.6 million in public dollars in his last two years at Ornge, including salary, bonuses, cash advances and two housing loans. The police investigation continues. ^[14]

Aircraft Fleet

Ornge AgustaWestland AW139 at the Ottawa base, 3 June 2011

An S-76A owned by Canadian Helicopters and flown under contract with Ornge in May 2008.

An Ornge Sikorsky S-76A C-GIMT (in old livery) preparing to receive a patient at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport.

An Ornge Sikorsky S-76A lifting off at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport.

Waiting at the PRHC in Peterborough, Ontario

On 28 August 2008 Ornge announced the purchase of ten new AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters to replace their fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters,^[15] to be delivered over a period of two years beginning in late 2010.^[16] The S-76 helicopters were previously owned and operated by Canadian Helicopters, but are now owned by Ornge and operated by Canadian Helicopters.^[17] The S-76 helicopters will be serviced by Canadian Helicopters until April 2012.^[17]

Helicopters

Sikorsky S-76s^[15] located at:

• Moosonee Airport (1)
• Kenora Airport (1)
• Thunder Bay Airport (1)

AgustaWestland AW139 located at:

• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (2) -
• Ottawa International Airport (1)
• Sudbury Airport (1)
• London International Airport (1)

From the first long weekend of the summer to Labour Day, one Toronto crew was relocated and based out of Muskoka Airport for the increased number of trauma calls in cottage country during this period.^[18] This practice stopped after the summer of 2010.

Fixed-wing aircraft

As of the end of 2009, Ornge has begun operating its own fleet of Pilatus PC-12NG fixed-wing aircraft from its bases in:

• Thunder Bay^[19]

• Sioux Lookout^[20]

• Timmins^[21]

Land Critical Care Ambulance

ORNGE operates 3 land transfer bases and 18 Crestline Coach TypeIII ambulances in Ontario

• Markham Base (just north of Toronto)^[22] - both Critical Care and the Ted Rogers Pediatric Transport teams

• Ottawa Base^[23]

• Peterborough Base^[24]

Standing agreement aircraft

Additional aircraft are available under the Standing Agreement (as and when required) contract with other operators:

• Canadian Flyers International operating a Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain from the Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport and Piper PA-31 Navajo from Dryden, Ontario

• Wabusk Air operating a Beechcraft A100 King Air from Moosonee Airport

• Thunder Airlines - Beechcraft A100 King Air; Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; and Mitsubishi MU-2 from Thunder Bay International Airport, Sudbury Airport and Timmins/Victor M. Power Airport

• Flightexec at Toronto/Buttonville Municipal Airport and London International Airport

• SkyCare Air Ambulance operating two Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner aircraft at Sioux Lookout Airport.

• Air Bravo operating Pilatus PC-12 aircraft out of Timmins, Sioux Lookout, Elliot Lake, and Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.

Aircraft inventory

Historic Fleet

• Bell 212 1977-1990s^[27]
• BK-117 1988-1989 - trial only with aircraft destroyed by fire^[27]
• Beech 200^[27]

Accidents and Incidents

• On 31 May 2013 a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crashed after departure from Moosonee, Ontario. Two pilots and two paramedics were on board. There were no survivors.^[28]

• On 28 January 1989 BK-117A-3, registered C-GIRB, was in trial use and burned on tarmac after landing at Toronto Buttonville Airport.^[29][30]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ornge.

• Official website