Life Flight Trains at Felton Covered Bridge Park
A Stanford Medicine Life Flight helicopter landed at Felton Covered Bridge Park around 7pm on Tuesday, October 6, as part of a training drill.
The helicopter set down on the park’s lawn after dark while Felton Fire vehicles and crews attended. A few neighbors stopped along the split-rail fence on Graham Hill Road to watch. “Felton is drilling with them,” Felton Fire board member Jim Anderson said.
Drills like this teach ground crews how to choose and secure a landing zone, clear onlookers, light the area at night and hand a patient to the flight team. .
About Stanford Life Flight and its helicopter
Stanford Medicine Life Flight was the Bay Area’s first helicopter emergency medical service. Active since its first call on May 1, 1984. It serves communities within about 300 miles of Stanford, from the Oregon border to Santa Barbara and east to Reno.
The aircraft in Felton, tail number N1984S, is an Airbus H145 D3. FAA records list it as a 2022 Airbus model, and Stanford says it is the only one of its model in California. It went into service with Life Flight in spring 2025.
- Built for tight spaces: a smaller rotor and strong hover performance let it land on highways and mountain clearings.
- A flying ICU: the cabin holds a ventilator, up to 12 IV pumps and advanced heart-support devices.
- Night-ready: two built-in spotlights and night-vision goggles for the crew.
- Fast launch: crews aim to lift off from the Stanford Hospital roof within seven minutes of a call.
Each flight carries a pilot and two flight nurses.
What it means for the San Lorenzo Valley
For a mountain community with winding roads and long drives to trauma centers, a practiced landing zone close to town can save critical time. Covered Bridge Park sits right at Graham Hill and Mt. Hermon roads, with open lawn near the center of Felton.
If you see a helicopter landing:
- Keep well back and follow directions from fire crews.
- Watch for flying debris from rotor wash, and hold onto hats and loose items.
- Never approach the aircraft, even after it has landed.
- Keep pets leashed and away from the landing area.
Thank you to Stanford Life Flight crew and Felton Fire for training at the park, so they are ready when it counts.
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