LifeFlight and Bar Harbor Community Celebrate Helipad Opening
LifeFlight of Maine recently celebrated the opening of a new helipad in Bar Harbor, made possible by $250,000 of generous donor support. The new, year-round helipad will improve swift access to advanced care for critically ill and injured patients. Its construction was a collaborative effort with LifeFlight, MDI Hospital, the Town of Bar Harbor, and the Bar Harbor Fire Department.
“Roughly 70 patients per year are transported out of the communities on Mount Desert Island,” Joe Kellner, CEO of LifeFlight of Maine said at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the helipad on October 3, 2025.
Previously, when the weather was bad or the surface of the baseball field was unsuitable to support an aircraft, LifeFlight would land its helicopter at the Bar Harbor ferry terminal. The new helipad reduces the amount of time patients spend in transit by nearly half. The surface is paved and has lights that turn on automatically as the aircraft approaches, which also enhances safety for flight operations.
“I’ve been on many emergency scenes where we need to set up a LifeFlight landing zone, and in this beautiful area with the unique geographic location, it’s often difficult to find an appropriate location,” said Rachel Malcolm. Rachel is a member of the LifeFlight Foundation Board of Trustees, a local volunteer fire fighter, and also works for The Jackson Laboratory. “Seconds count,” she added. “Seconds count for the patients, for the LifeFlight crews, and for the first responders on the ground.”
Construction of the new helipad began this summer after a private foundation with strong ties to the Bar Harbor community made a significant donation to the LifeFlight Foundation to support the initiative. Another donor made a contribution that will be given to the Town of Bar Harbor to support a maintenance fund for the helipad. MDI Hospital also contributed to the project.
“The new helipad is a vital resource for our Island community, ensuring that patients in need of advanced emergency care can be transported quickly and safely when every second counts,” said Chrissi Maguire, President/CEO of MDI Hospital. “Our partnership with LifeFlight strengthens our ability to provide lifesaving care close to home and reflects our shared commitment to the health and safety of our region.”
“Overall, the new permanent landing pad enhances the quality of care that all emergency medical service agencies can deliver to individuals when minutes and seconds count,” Matt Bartlett, the fire chief for the Town of Bar Harbor, said to those gathered for the dedication of the new helipad.
We are delighted to share the completion of this important project and look forward to the lifesaving impact it will have for the community.
Photos from the Helipad Dedication
