Metrolife Operations
The MetroLife Division of Metro helicopters was established in 2003 to enable our pilots to realistically simulate helicopter emergency medical services operations including medevac from accident or disaster sites, and inter-facility transfer of critical care patients, while flying on the VATSIM network.
MetroLife East Coast base of operations is located at Floyd Bennett field, Brooklyn, New York. In the real world, this is the former location of a US Coast Guard air station, as well as a Naval Air Station. Floyd Bennett is currently home to the New York City Police Aviation unit. Custom scenery of the Metro Headquarters at Floyd Bennett Field was developed by John White in the Winter of 2002. It was our first highly detailed scenery location for oprations in the New York area. After the Metro Headquarters was moved to Teterboro Airport (KTEB) in Northern New Jersey, Floyd Bennett Field became home to MetroLife.
In 2007, MetroLife launched its West Coast division - at the same time that Metro Helicopters opened a FBO at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) in southern California.
MetroLife began flying the Eurocopter AS-365N3 Dauphin and EC-135 medevac aircraft, with distinctive MetroLife livery designs. In 2007, MetroLife added the Sikorsky S-76A (Nemeth Designs) and the Bell 412 (Jordan Moore, Hovercontrol.com). Special liveries were created for these aircraft by Ed Easterbrook, for both the New York and Los Angeles MetroLife areas.
In order to better simulate real world helicopter EMS (HEMS) operations, Metro conducts these operations using flight dispatchers, who communicate with Metro pilots using voice over IP tools such as TeamSpeak and Squawbox private voice feature. Several Metro dispatchers have significant real world experience in HEMS and dispatch procedures.
In 2006, Metro Helicopters and MetroLife became affiliated with the ICARO Group. ICARO represnts several well known virtual helicopter and fixed wing EMS operations throughout Europe, and provides support services, customized aircraft models and scenery for Flight Simulator, and custom software applications in support of the operations of its member organizations. Metro is the first member virtual airline of the ICARO alliance operating in North America.
Metro uses special dispatching (via 2-way text messaging displays in the virtual cockpit) and GPS gauges developed by ICARO. The ICARO GPS functionality was complemented by the addition of database entries for of popular helicopter routes used by Metro pilots in New York and Los Angeles. For more information about ICARO, visit their web site, www.icaro-group.info
For more information about MetroLife, please contact us at metrolife@metrohelo.org
