RAF mission to save injured soldiers

[Lyneham Lad]

On the BBC web site today:-

Mission to save injured soldiers (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wiltshire/7722030.stm)

Hopefully both of the Casevac cases make a full recovery.

[sycamore]

Any particular reason for using EMA,as opposed to Birmingham ?

[Boxer42]

I understand that Birmingham have a curfew. Not sure why they have one, but have seen recents reports of delayed aircraft having to use EMA instead of BHX.

Hope that helps.

[helimarshaller]

Well done to all concerned in getting these guys back home in a speedy manner.

Good luck to the injured in there fight to recover.

[dead_pan]

There was a report on BBC News today - the reporter accompanied the flight back from Afghanistan. According to the report one casualty was offloaded in Germany (his condition deteriorated during the flight). He was subsequently flown on to the UK.

[knowitall]

"I understand that Birmingham have a curfew. "

so is that new? there was some fuss a while back due to the noise from Tri Stars


do critically injured soldiers now have to endure a longer ambulance ride do to complaints from the locals near birmingham airport?

if so thats dispicable

[BEagle]

Night Flying Policy

Birmingham International Airport has one of the most stringent Night Flying Policies in the UK which restricts both the number and type of aircraft allowed to operate at night. Any aircraft registering more than 87 decibels at the centre noise monitors during the period 2330–0600 hours, will be subject to a surcharge equivalent to a full runway charge.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/nw969/Internet/zxzxz.jpg

However, I don't know whether this is germane to the issue in question.

[taxydual]

Let me get this right.

1. We close all the military hospitals.

2. We open a military ward in a Selly Oak (Birmingham) hospital.

3. We medevac all our injured troops into Birmingham Airport.

4. Birmingham Airport refuses to allow medevac aircraft to land at night.


OK. To the journo's who hang about here, there's your starter for 10. In the meantime, where's my MP's telephone number?

[XV277]

Unless they've changed recently, Aberdeen have a planning condition that prevents aircraft landing after 11pm. Perhaps Brum have similar?

[Rhino power]

The reason for the 'curfew' at BHX was I believe because of nightly maintenance work on the runway, from what I understand it was to remove the build-up of rubber deposits, several of their scheduled flights diverted into EMA last week after they missed the curfew...

-RP

[Bot1]

For information, BHX had already remained open for an extra 2 hours until the diversion to Germany delayed the flight. Then EMA was used as runway work was in progress at BHX.
BHX support for these aeromeds is always excellent!

[50+Ray]

To the crews and medical team - Good Work.
To the casualties - Best Wishes for a speedy recovery.
R

[taxydual]

Thanks for the gen, Bot1.

I get a touch annoyed when 'injured troops' and 'jobsworth's' get into the same story.

To all at BHX who support these flights, my apologies and my thanks.



Note to self: engage brain before operating keyboard.

[angels]

taxy - must admit as I read through this thread I was drawing the same conclusions as you!

Thanks Bot1.

Well done to all involved.

[youngskywalker]

Aberdeen are open 24 hours now, and always has been for ambulance flights.

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Aberdeen are open 24 hours now, and always has been for ambulance flights


Just as well, seeing as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary rarely allow helicopters to land at their HLS (at any time of day), preferring to make the casualty arrive by ambulance after a 20-min ride from the airport...

[Could be the last?]

My understanding is that Selly Oak is contracted to provide med support to mil personnel. More importantly, this contract is up for review and that there are a number of issues that may see mil personnel going elsewhere?

Surely, with projected times in the sandpit for 20 years plus, a dedicated facility with a runway has to make sense..............

Anyone know anymore?

[preduk]

Anyone know what the name of the documentary the video clip came from is called?

[spheroid]

Well done to all concerned. A great story.

Just a minor point but that was a Medevac and not a Casevac....

However, a good job done


BZ

[johno617tonka]

if the contract is up then maybe they might think of the north west!

IIRC Wythenshawe hospital has excellent facilities for not only heart problems but head injuries too....aswell as the usual stuff that hospitals cope with..

that and Manchester airport being only a few mins drive away...

great work by all involved all the same....

[MarkD]

This may be a dumb question but why not do what the Canadians do and take them into Landstuhl (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/12/06/tribute-hospital.html)? Military facility with, unfortunately, huge experience in dealing with combat casualties, plus probably a saving in flight time?

[air pig]

johno617tonka.

I work at Wythenshawe, yes we do, do Cardio-thoracic, but importantly NOT Neurosurgical, which is at Hope hospital in Salford. Birmingham have it all on one site, therefore ALL specialists are available across the Selly Oak site. We also do not have enough beds.

Regards

Air pig.

[99luftballon]

Mark D,

There are two obvious answers to your question:

1. Landstuhl is in Germany, a long way for injured British Servicemen's families to travel to visit don't you think. The fact that families are able to visit the guys in Selly Oak can only help their recovery.

2. Landstuhl isn't a British Military facility. With the British Forces short of doctors, surely it's better that they are in Theatre (no pun intended), or the UK, rather than manning someone else's hospital in between. The only advantage I can see would be to save about 2 hours flying time, which is only about 20% of the total travelling time in most cases.

[plans123]

Flight attendants? I'm sure the crusty old Loady wouldn't want to be called that. Whereas the hairy arsed tattoo'd wide body stewards would. Fat wrafs in overly tight flying suits? no thanks :yuk: