Amboy Fire Protection District Heliport

Economic and strategic reasons. The primary cause of closure was likely the discontinuation of the dedicated air support program or the determination that the facility was no longer necessary. Maintaining a heliport is expensive for a small, local fire district. Furthermore, modern air ambulance services (medevac) are often coordinated at a regional level and are equipped to land in a variety of pre-surveyed, safe locations (like athletic fields or secured roadways), reducing the need for a dedicated, fixed heliport at a specific fire station.

The physical location of the former heliport is the rear lot of the active Amboy Fire Protection District station at 25 N. East Avenue, Amboy, IL. Satellite imagery confirms that the concrete pad which served as the landing zone is no longer marked or maintained for aviation use. The area is now used as a general-purpose yard for fire department vehicle parking, equipment maneuvering, and training.

The Amboy Fire Protection District Heliport was a vital piece of local emergency infrastructure. Its purpose was to serve as a designated and safe landing zone for medical evacuation helicopters. In a rural area like Amboy, rapid access to air transport is critical for getting trauma patients to specialized medical centers quickly. The heliport facilitated the seamless transfer of patients from ground ambulances to helicopters, significantly cutting down on transport time. It did not base any aircraft but was a crucial link in the regional chain of survival for emergency medical services (EMS).

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the heliport. Given the operational costs and the effectiveness of modern, flexible landing protocols for regional air ambulance services, there is no apparent demand or financial justification for the Amboy Fire Protection District to re-establish and maintain a dedicated heliport. The facility is considered permanently closed.