Springfield Community Hospital Heliport

Facility upgrade and replacement. The closure was not due to economic reasons or an accident, but rather a planned modernization. The original heliport was replaced by a new, more capable facility to accommodate larger, modern medical helicopters and to better integrate with the expanding hospital infrastructure as it grew into the current CoxHealth South campus.

The original heliport site is now part of the sprawling Cox South Medical Center campus. The air ambulance function is now served by a modern, active, and elevated heliport located on the same hospital grounds. This current facility is officially registered with the FAA as the 'Lester E Cox Medical Center South Heliport' (FAA Identifier: MU21). The site continues its mission as a critical hub for air medical transport.

As the heliport for Springfield Community Hospital, it was a vital part of the emergency medical system for Springfield and the surrounding rural Ozarks region. It handled medical evacuation (medevac) and critical patient transfer flights, significantly reducing transport times for life-threatening emergencies. Its operation represented the evolution of air ambulance services and advanced medical care in Southwest Missouri.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the original heliport designated as US-10781. It has been permanently and functionally replaced by the superior and actively operational MU21 heliport, which serves the same purpose at the same location. The original designation is obsolete and will not be reinstated.