The STARS air ambulance is on pace to triple the previous record number of missions flown in a single year in Manitoba. Spokesperson Cam Heke says they have already flown 410 missions, and with almost three months to go, will likely exceed 550 flights. The previous record was 187, set in 2012. Heke explains why the sharp increase.

"It really reflects that STARS has become more integrated in the health system in the province. And, a lot of people worked very hard to improve the system or change it a little bit to make sure STARS is being called out more when needed. A lot of firefighters in the province, particularly in the southeast region, as well as health care staff in the hospitals, doctors, nurses and EMS, a lot of people really started coming together to make sure STARS is being utilized more."

He adds a helipad is expected to open at the Health Sciences Centre early in the new year and that will result in even more flights.

Heke says Manitoba is starting to catch up, in numbers, with other provinces that utilize STARS.

"If you look at the other five bases, they all fly anywhere from 500 to 1,000 times a year. If you look at a Calgary, with a high population and Edmonton, with a high population surrounding those big cities, they fly about 700-800 times a year. Here in Winnipeg, given that we're going to hit over 500 missions this year, and then with the helipad opening, we'll likely see over 600 flights a year and that's consistent with what you'd expect with a population size surrounding Winnipeg."