Cargill is coming to the aid of STARS and its goal of renewing its aging helicopter fleet by providing a $400,000 grant.

The grant will be used by the not-for-profit air ambulance organization to help purchase nine new, medically-equipped Airbus H145 helicopters at a cost of $13 million each. The new aircraft will help STARS deliver critical care to patients across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and parts of British Columbia for the next thirty or more years.

“At Cargill the safety of others is guided by our values of putting people first and doing the right thing. Safety extends well beyond our employees to our customers and the communities where we operate,” said Cargill President Jeff Vassart in a release. “We are proud to support STARS and the critical emergency care they provide to rural and remote communities when it’s needed most.”

STARS has been flying missions in the new H145 aircraft from two of its bases since mid-2019, thanks to government, community and corporate support of an ambitious capital campaign that hopes to see the remainder of the new fleet delivered by 2022.