I hear a rumour that one or more police or air ambulance operators are planning to fit winches to their aircraft.
My questions are 1 Why? and
2. When will it be used and by whom?
Well....
1: So a suitably trained crew can winch when you can't land
&
2: So a suitably trained crew can winch when you can't land
these 2 questions are a bit broad but why does anyone want to winch?
If this is true then a winch equiped police or air ambulance helicopter would give these units an option when you can't land. Playing devil's advocate for a moment, a winch might be a useful tool if an air ambulance could not land near to a patient if they are located in a wood or on the side of a cliff, the paramedic could winch down to then deliver immediate medical care, but as for whether they would then both get winched back up to the helicopter, that would depend on a million things.
This won't IMHO replace the conventional UK SAR but enhance it when these few aircraft are tied up or if one of these non-SAR winch equiped aircraft is better placed to respond to an incident.
The New Zealand, Westpac air ambulance service already operate some of their aircraft (BK117s) with winches fitted. I suppose its like anything in aviation its only a good idea if the need is matched by its use and on that time will tell.
Sometimes change can upset other peoples apple carts
Geting back behind hard cover now
