May 26, 2025 | Aviation, Operations

The Evolution of STARS Aircraft

A red painted STARS BK117 air ambulance captured in an aerial photograph flying over green tree and prairie grassland.

STARS has always been about the patient — even as the aircraft changed over time.

Since its 1985 inception, STARS has flown six types of aircraft. Six and a half if you consider the upgrade of its current model. Here’s a rundown of how the aircraft involved in STARS’ history have evolved.

AIRBUS BK117: 1985-2022

This “workhorse” was the single most-prolific and long-lived helicopter model in STARS’ history. From the first STARS mission in 1985 to its official retirement in 2022, the BK117 dominated the STARS aircraft lineup for most of the organization’s first 40 years. At its peak, there were eight of these helicopters in use simultaneously, anchoring fleet operations after an original three were leased in the early years.

MESSERSCHMITT-BÖLKOW-BLOHM (MBB) BO105: 1991-1993

When STARS’ Edmonton base was established in 1991, it launched with this aircraft. It was eventually replaced with the Airbus BK117.

MITSUBISHI MARQUISE MU-2: 1991-1996

STARS flew the Marquise MU-2 airplane for several years in Alberta in the 1990s, but as the mission of providing critical care anywhere was honed and refined, helicopters soon became the only type of aircraft STARS would operate. Today, when needed, STARS air medical crews fly on fixed-wing ambulances operated by other organizations.

SIKORSKY S-76A: 1996-2001

In 1996, STARS established Nova Scotia’s first helicopter air ambulance program, operating it with this aircraft through the first five years on a temporary contract.

AGUSTAWESTLAND AW139: 2013-2020

Three of these roomy helicopters flew more than 5,000 STARS missions from three bases over a seven-year span, ending in 2020. This aircraft helped pave the way for the organization-wide unified fleet that would come next.

AIRBUS H145: 2019-PRESENT

This model now makes up the entirety of STARS’ 10-helicopter fleet, spread across all six of its bases. The original handful of four-bladed D2 models that STARS purchased were upgraded to the newer five-bladed D3 variant. All 10 aircraft are now the latest version of the Airbus H145.