Portable helipad
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northampton UK
Portable helipad
From BBC News
RC
Portable pad to help helicopter crews
Emergency helicopter crews in Wiltshire are to benefit from portable landing pad invented by a man from the county.
The landing pad, created by John King, from Poulshot, can be carried by ground crews to sites of serious incidents where it is not easy for the helicopter to land.
It has lights to help air crews touch down in difficult conditions.
Mike Evans, head of the helicopter operations unit in Devizes, said the new equipment was invaluable.
Emergency helicopter crews in Wiltshire are to benefit from portable landing pad invented by a man from the county.
The landing pad, created by John King, from Poulshot, can be carried by ground crews to sites of serious incidents where it is not easy for the helicopter to land.
It has lights to help air crews touch down in difficult conditions.
Mike Evans, head of the helicopter operations unit in Devizes, said the new equipment was invaluable.
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
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From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
OK, Whirlygig has had the best part of bottle of Pinotage at this point but...
I thought the whole point of helicopters was that they could get to otherwise inaccessible places quicker and easier than motor vehicles. So, how does the ground crew get there first? If they are there first, why don't they help the poor bu**ers in distress?
Or, should someone in the helicopter jump out at, say, 10ft, with the portable landing pad and erect it on the spot.
Or, have I missed the point?
Or, is this a late April Fool?
Cheers
Whirlygig
I thought the whole point of helicopters was that they could get to otherwise inaccessible places quicker and easier than motor vehicles. So, how does the ground crew get there first? If they are there first, why don't they help the poor bu**ers in distress?
Or, should someone in the helicopter jump out at, say, 10ft, with the portable landing pad and erect it on the spot.
Or, have I missed the point?
Or, is this a late April Fool?
Cheers
Whirlygig
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: UK
I recall seeing this "invention" on the late lamented "Tomorrow's World" about 3 yrs ago. It was demonstrated by using an Apache - in the UK. (Last known sighting 
)
Whirlyglug - you are of course right. So keep taking the Pinotage. (While you're about it, try a bottle of NZ Peloris which is way better than many champagnes and about half the price. Majestic have it.)
)Whirlyglug - you are of course right. So keep taking the Pinotage. (While you're about it, try a bottle of NZ Peloris which is way better than many champagnes and about half the price. Majestic have it.)
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Headsethair,
Thank you for your unsolicited but very welcome advice. Just hope now that there isn't a run on Peloris at my local Majestic 'cos everyone else has followed your recommendation and beaten me to it!!!
JCooper,
Seriously, how did the ground crews get there more quickly? Do you have little out-stations of EMS ground crews whose sole purpose is to get to incidents in order to put up helipads? Might work in Arizona but in the UK, the problem is less vast distances but constricted roads and too much traffic.
Cheers
Whirlygig (now feeling a little worse for wear)
Thank you for your unsolicited but very welcome advice. Just hope now that there isn't a run on Peloris at my local Majestic 'cos everyone else has followed your recommendation and beaten me to it!!!
JCooper,
Seriously, how did the ground crews get there more quickly? Do you have little out-stations of EMS ground crews whose sole purpose is to get to incidents in order to put up helipads? Might work in Arizona but in the UK, the problem is less vast distances but constricted roads and too much traffic.
Cheers
Whirlygig (now feeling a little worse for wear)
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 593
Likes: 0
From: UK
Whirly: shlight mishtake. It's Pelorus, not Peloris. It's made by Cloudy Bay :
http://www.tizwine.com/wineprofile$205
And it is more interesting than a portable landing pad.
http://www.tizwine.com/wineprofile$205
And it is more interesting than a portable landing pad.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 131
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From: AZ
We have ambulance stationed everywhere in the US, I cant speak for the whole country but in the states Ive lived in I have never heard of a ground crew being more than 30-45 minutes away and that is for people out in the way way way far out boonies. If they are that far out it will prolly take the helicopter 30-45 minutes to get there from the nearest major city. Many times the ground crews get to the location and realize that conditions are much worse than anticipated and need to call for a helicopter also. Ive never flown EMS so I can't speak too well on it but I have many friends who are EMTs and they are always on the scene before the helicopter.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 603
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From: US
WhirlyGig:
In much of the US, local EMS will arrive on scene relatively quickly -- they are coming from the local fire station. But it may be a long drive to the closest hospital with a trauma center (most hospitals don't have a trauma center). Most patients don't need a trauma center. But for those that do, the helicopter can be a life saver by getting the patient to the trauma center in tens of minutes, rather than 1 hour+.
<ugh, my spelling is awful>
In much of the US, local EMS will arrive on scene relatively quickly -- they are coming from the local fire station. But it may be a long drive to the closest hospital with a trauma center (most hospitals don't have a trauma center). Most patients don't need a trauma center. But for those that do, the helicopter can be a life saver by getting the patient to the trauma center in tens of minutes, rather than 1 hour+.
<ugh, my spelling is awful>
Last edited by OFBSLF; 9th April 2004 at 20:19.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 562
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From: Grobelling through the murk to the sunshine above.
I've flown EMS in Europe, and we were quite often the first on the scene of a medical emergency, although the Police and/or an ambulance normally get to road accidents first.
However, all this is missing the point. What do we need a helipad for, when there are perfectly suitable fields, roads, gardens, car-parks etc, covering the World? Obviously we don't like to get our boots dirty, but we can if it's really necessary!
However, all this is missing the point. What do we need a helipad for, when there are perfectly suitable fields, roads, gardens, car-parks etc, covering the World? Obviously we don't like to get our boots dirty, but we can if it's really necessary!
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 131
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From: AZ
Anything that would add safety would be a bonus. If you are picking up someone in the middle of the desert that lighted helipad would be a nice touch rather than seizure inducing lights on the ambulance 
OFBSLF-much better said, thanks.
OFBSLF-much better said, thanks.
