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Aug. 13--The Wayne County Airport was to began serving as Metro Life Flight's new southern base this morning, MetroHealth System said Wednesday.

The new base is located in Smithville, just north of Wooster. It replaces the base previously at Aultman Hospital in Canton.

The move follows more than a year of looking at where to base the operation, MetroHealth said in a news release.

Life Flight officials say the move will improve response times for critically-ill or injured to Northeast Ohio hospitals.

Each helicopter flight is staffed by two pilots and two critical-care nurses. A physician can be summoned for certain calls.

In addition to the Wayne County operation, Metro Life Flight also has bases at regional airports in Lorain and Portage counties.