EMS Fly Cars: A New Lifeline for Rural Sullivan County Residents

Sullivan County’s new EMS fly car system is proving to be a game-changer for emergency response in Sullivan County. These non-transporting first response vehicles are designed to get medical providers to patients faster, delivering critical care on-site while waiting for an ambulance. Since their launch in mid-September, fly cars have responded to over 680 calls, cutting response times by an average of 15-20 minutes—a difference that can mean life or death in emergencies like cardiac arrests.

The initiative was born out of a study commissioned in 2019 by the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz, which highlighted the need for improvements in our EMS system. With many of the county’s emergency services relying on overstretched volunteers, the fly car program is helping to ease the burden, particularly in rural areas where long travel times can delay care.

Sullivan County currently has four fly cars—two offering basic life support (BLS) and two providing advanced life support (ALS)—strategically stationed across the region. Beyond emergency response, these vehicles support community events, aid volunteer crews, and assist in training efforts.

This is just one piece of the puzzle in improving EMS services, but it’s already saving lives and making a real impact for residents.

Alex Rau, Deputy Commissioner for Public Safety, speaks to Radio Catskill's Patricio Robayo about this program and its success so far.