Woodland Park disputes $433K air-ambulance bill to fly polic

[ArcticKat]

WOODLAND PARK — Officials in a Passaic County town say an air-ambulance service took advantage of an emotional situation when it charged $433,525 to fly its dying police chief home.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/0 ... r-amb.html

[Canuck223]

Hmm,

I am conflicted. New Jersey isn't known for it's ethical and honest political machine, so it's entirely possible they simply chose to shaft the Air Ambulance.

However, the bill does seem a tad higher than common sense would allow. I get that the distance is long, so the fuel, crew, and associated costs would be steep. But $400+K?

[bizjets101]

Wow, they operate a 35 year old Lear 35 that they bought in December 2009 - it was due for a de-mate at the time. It's an old lear - serial 35-036. They gutted it, re-regisitered it N351AJ, new avionics, interior.

I'll bet the 433k is about 50 percent of what they paid to buy the Lear.

The could have chartered a Boeing BBJ with Doctor Oz for far less $$$$.

Wonder who got the kickback?


Angel Flight Lear 35 N90AH (now N351AJ)

[ArcticKat]

Based on some prices I've gotten, a Lear 45 costs about $4,000.00 an hour to charter. Based in Ohio, fly to Idaho, over to New Jersey, back to Ohio, is about 12 hours. $48,000.00 should be a close approximation for the price tag. I added $500.00 per hour for the additional medical flight crew and my costs are for a business jet rental, but an air ambulance shouldn't cost almost half a million dollars to rent unless it's taxying the entire way.