The new helipad at Cass County Memorial Hospital will be set for use Friday afternoon.

The helipad had to be moved due to the expansion project currently underway at the hospital. The new helipad is located just east of the hospital parking area, and is used for emergency patient transport to facilities in Omaha and Des Moines.It opens for use at 5:00 PM Friday.

Air ambulance helicopters had been landing at the Atlantic Municipal Airport since the end of March. Medivac Ambulance Service had loaned an ambulance to the hospital to transport the helicopter crew to the hospital, and then the patient and crew back to the helicopter for transport.

CCMH Administrator Pat Markham says that while they only use the helicopter transport about 50 times a year, they’re very pleased to have the new helipad open.