Vice Mayor Gary Ashcraft Joins Air Care 2 Team for Ride-Along

Published on April 16, 2025

, Vice Mayor Gary Ashcraft of the City of Eustis joined the elite Air Care 2 Trauma Team for a full-day ridealong based out of the Leesburg Airport— an experience that was not only professionally significant but deeply personal.

After careful coordination, Vice Mayor Ashcraft was granted the rare opportunity to observe the life-saving operations of the Air Care team—comprised of highly trained medical professionals and pilots who serve Central Florida by responding to critical emergencies by air. During the ride-along, the Vice Mayor shadowed the crew on active calls, gaining firsthand insight into the precision, courage, and urgency that define their work.

“For me, this was more than just a ride-along,” said Ashcraft. “My father served as a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot in Vietnam, and I have countless friends in the medical and aviation fields who dedicate their lives to saving others. This experience was a way to honor them all—and to witness the immense impact these professionals have on our region every single day.”

Air Care 2, part of Orlando Health’s Air Care Team, is a vital component in Florida’s emergency response system. Crewed by seasoned flight nurses, paramedics, and pilots, the program responds to life-threatening situations—accidents, trauma, and time-sensitive medical emergencies—where every second counts. The helicopters are mobile ICUs, equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed with professionals trained for the highest levels of patient care in high-pressure environments.

On any given day, teams like Amy and Richard—the crew Vice Mayor Ashcraft flew with—stand ready to be dispatched within moments, ensuring that critical care reaches those in need faster than ground transport could allow.

“People see the helicopters in the sky and don’t always realize just how many lives they’re touching,” Ashcraft added. “These teams are silent heroes, and today I got to walk a few steps in their boots. What I saw was courage, compassion, and an unshakable commitment to the community.”

The City of Eustis commends the Air Care 2 team and the broader Orlando Health trauma network for their unwavering dedication to saving lives across Central Florida. We thank them for welcoming Vice Mayor Ashcraft and for offering the public a glimpse into their extraordinary work.

Additional photos and video from the day will be shared on the City of Eustis Facebook page.

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Media Contact:
CityOfEustis-PR@eustis.org
352-483-5432