After nearly three years of work, the LifeStar helicopter and crew are calling Effingham County home.

The emergency air ambulance service has positioned its helicopter at the landing pad built for LifeStar. LifeStar, now owned by OmniFlight, spent its first full day at its new home Wednesday.

“I’m just tickled to death,” said Effingham County Commissioner Jeff Utley, who had worked on bringing LifeStar to Effingham. “It’s going to be such an asset to the county and hopefully a life-saving asset.”

“We’re very pleased to be in Springfield and in the new facility,” said David Herrin of LifeStar. “It’s been quite a while in planning.”

LifeStar is sharing a 5,000 square foot building on 3rd Street Extension with the county EMS. EMS, which is moving out of the county administrative complex, will occupy 3,000 square feet, and LifeStar will take up residence in the remaining 2,000 square feet. LifeStar also has a 2,500 square foot maintenance bay.

There is a 50 foot by 50 foot landing pad for LifeStar’s helicopter, and another for a second chopper.

Before it was purchased by OmniFlight in September 2008, LifeStar was operated by Memorial Health University Center in Savannah. The air ambulance began flying in 1985. When the hospital needed the helicopter’s landing pad and office for expansion, LifeStar moved its operations to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

But that also meant the helicopter couldn’t take off if airliners were inbound or outbound.

“We’re closer to the patients we serve in the outlying communities,” Herrin said. “It’s an advantage to us and to our patients.”

LifeStar’s helicopter already has had three flights from its new home in Effingham County.

A typical shift includes a pilot, a flight nurse, a paramedic and a mechanic. There are about 14 full-time and part-time employees with LifeStar, and many of them live in Effingham, Herrin said.

As part of the contract, LifeStar will have a fuel system in place for its helicopter and will be paying the county $1,450 a month in rent. The county also has put in a 10,000 gallon fuel tank for the helicopter, and a second pad will allow for OmniFlight to refuel another helicopter. The county also will get 20 cents for each gallon delivered to OmniFlight as a fuel storage fee.

The firm also operates a helicopter based in Vidalia.

OmniFlight and the county have entered into a five-year lease.

“It’s been a long process,” Utley said, “and it’s going to be just such an asset to the county.”