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Old 26th Jan 2009, 16:06
  #20 (permalink)  
JimL
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Europe
Posts: 900
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SASless (all of this is contained in the paper you have already found),

Those pictures are all of the accident scene - known in JARs as the HEMS Operating Site; there are basically few restrictions at this site and PC2 with Exposure is permitted (or PC3 with exposure outside a Congested Hostile Environment).

What is being discussed as far as Wellington is concerned is a Hospital in a Congested Hostile Environment - this still attracts alleviations but only on the basis of exceptional problems (a pre-existing site (before 2002) which is too small or which has difficult obstacles).

The final type of site is the HEMS Operating Base - for which no alleviations (beyond those permitted to all operations) are permitted.

The risk profile of these three types of sites is based upon frequency of use - permitted risk is inversely proportional to the amount of use.

Unless the sortie is on the basis of "facilitating emergency assistance where immediate and rapid transportation is essential" it is not a HEMS Flight and no HEMS alleviations are possible.

Victor papa, I do not speak for the CAA but I was not aware that they had a 'worldwide obsession with twins'; if what you have described is required for South Africa then who is to argue. However, as you are aware from our previous discussions, for Europe the size of the aircraft is driven by the operating and medical requirements. We are also seeing a trend towards larger cabins for operators in the US. In additional, with the larger aircraft comes the ability to operate IFR - if required.

Jim
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