Best EMS helicopter?
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EC-135 as EMS Ship
Just spent the past week with Northwest MedStar in Spokane and have to say that the EC-135 is a great addition to the EMS ranks. The pilots seem to love it and one of the major advantages is that it can be completely shut down to blades stopped in less than one minute after landing.
According to Pratt & Whitney you only have to let the engines stabilise and then you can shut them down. Rotor brake can be applied as soon as it comes down to 50% and according to the mechanics the blades can be stopped in less than 30 seconds. That makes it much easier for crew to operate in and out of the back with blades stopped.
Anyone else out there with comments on this aircraft. I will be posting some pics of these aircraft as soon as I get home.
PR
According to Pratt & Whitney you only have to let the engines stabilise and then you can shut them down. Rotor brake can be applied as soon as it comes down to 50% and according to the mechanics the blades can be stopped in less than 30 seconds. That makes it much easier for crew to operate in and out of the back with blades stopped.
Anyone else out there with comments on this aircraft. I will be posting some pics of these aircraft as soon as I get home.
PR
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We fly it mainly in the police role but are the third busiest police helo doing HEMS in the UK. Fantastic craft, carries 2 casualties with all the EMS equipment needed for monitoring the patient including 911 heart start should we need it in flight! Paramedics love it too for its flight characteristics. 
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Thermal runaway.
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Thermal runaway.
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Is this just based on the merits of the machine, or do we take into account affordability? How many hospitals would have EMS contracts if all they had available to choose from were MD902's and S-76s? In the single engine category, I like the Bell 407. Lots of power, fast (when the FAA isn't trying to slow it down) and reliable maintenance.
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DPW:
For starters, the 407 could not be certified in Canada for EMS use because of the SE restriction for Commercial Night/IFR. This is a standard requirement for EMS in CA. Secondly, Single Engine says it ALL. You wouldn't be able to find a Medic let alone any Ministry of Health that would go for a single engine machine for a dedicated EMS ship.
WIDGEON:
The BK (VOMIT COMET) 117 is not the most popular amongst back enders! The nickname speaks for itself. In fact CHC renamed it the BarBecue 117 after there's spontainiously combusted on shut down years ago!
Cheers, OffshoreIgor
For starters, the 407 could not be certified in Canada for EMS use because of the SE restriction for Commercial Night/IFR. This is a standard requirement for EMS in CA. Secondly, Single Engine says it ALL. You wouldn't be able to find a Medic let alone any Ministry of Health that would go for a single engine machine for a dedicated EMS ship.
WIDGEON:
The BK (VOMIT COMET) 117 is not the most popular amongst back enders! The nickname speaks for itself. In fact CHC renamed it the BarBecue 117 after there's spontainiously combusted on shut down years ago!
Cheers, OffshoreIgor
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EC 135. Has to be, one of the only 'light twins' that can carry TWO casualties for starters. Also has high skids, able to land anywhere, any terrain, unlike some competitors! Open plan cabin enhancing crew cooperation. fast powerful, and very cheap to run.
Vorsprung durch technique....
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Thermal runaway.
Vorsprung durch technique....
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Thermal runaway.
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TC:
I agree that 135 is a good machine but don't under-estimate a wheel equipped A/C. I remember when the Sudbury base was transitioning from 212 to 76. The common belief was that they would not be able to land at some scene calls because of the wheels. They found out very quickly that the 76 is rarely snookered because of terrain!
Cheers, OffshoreIgor
I agree that 135 is a good machine but don't under-estimate a wheel equipped A/C. I remember when the Sudbury base was transitioning from 212 to 76. The common belief was that they would not be able to land at some scene calls because of the wheels. They found out very quickly that the 76 is rarely snookered because of terrain!
Cheers, OffshoreIgor
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In Australia and New Zealand the primary aircraft used are Bell 412s, BK-117s and the AS-350. There are also small numbers of AS-365N/Bell 206 and 206Ls.
In addition the first Agusta Koala being used for EMS is going to be in Australia, operated by Careflight. Should be interesting to see how it goes.
PR
In addition the first Agusta Koala being used for EMS is going to be in Australia, operated by Careflight. Should be interesting to see how it goes.
PR
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Bk 117 was Toronto Helicopters (7050 ??) , there was a whole load of AD's after the accident about fuel venting and grounding . I never read the final TC report but they do not really publicize their reports.
Saw a great picture of them pulling a guy out of lake Ontario cant find it now.
Saw a great picture of them pulling a guy out of lake Ontario cant find it now.
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The perfect ambulance aircraft would have to meet the following requirements:
Capable of landing on a hi-way or helipad;
All weather capability;Fast cruise speed;
long range capability; smooth, quiet, large cabin; and Preferably pressurized.
That leaves only the AB 609.
If not the 609 , the new AB139 sounds promissing; large cabin realatively fast for a helicopter (145?)or the EC 155. The 155 is also equipped for flight in icing and has a large cabin with a realatively fast cruise speed.
The SK76 would be great if it could handle ice. Rumor has it that there is a kit coming out for the C+ but I can't say for certain.
Best cheers
IHL
Capable of landing on a hi-way or helipad;
All weather capability;Fast cruise speed;
long range capability; smooth, quiet, large cabin; and Preferably pressurized.
That leaves only the AB 609.
If not the 609 , the new AB139 sounds promissing; large cabin realatively fast for a helicopter (145?)or the EC 155. The 155 is also equipped for flight in icing and has a large cabin with a realatively fast cruise speed.
The SK76 would be great if it could handle ice. Rumor has it that there is a kit coming out for the C+ but I can't say for certain.
Best cheers
IHL
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The 609 isnt the best EMS machine.
1st : Its way to big to do on-scene work. The thing is huge , i couldnt believe
how large the mock-up was.It isnt going to fit into tight canyon roads where a large helo like a 412 or S-70 would have no problem. And how about hot day /Altitude performance , it can`t be that great with the high disc loading of the rotors.
2nd :its way to expensive , about 1 1/2 times more than a S-76 ,and the S-76 is in a league of its own price wise.
3rd :most medivacs are under 50 miles and
a normal helicopter is as fast point to point and less expensive overall. Over
one hundred miles it might be OK for hospital transfers....but its to expensive
for a hospital to buy , or two or three hospitals to buy....big money.
4th: It needs to be sorted out before id want to fly in it. Guaranteed they will crash some early-on
Just my humble opinion. Please state your opinion of the 609.....im very interested in learning what others think about this technology.
[This message has been edited by Larry (edited 05 March 2001).]
1st : Its way to big to do on-scene work. The thing is huge , i couldnt believe
how large the mock-up was.It isnt going to fit into tight canyon roads where a large helo like a 412 or S-70 would have no problem. And how about hot day /Altitude performance , it can`t be that great with the high disc loading of the rotors.
2nd :its way to expensive , about 1 1/2 times more than a S-76 ,and the S-76 is in a league of its own price wise.
3rd :most medivacs are under 50 miles and
a normal helicopter is as fast point to point and less expensive overall. Over
one hundred miles it might be OK for hospital transfers....but its to expensive
for a hospital to buy , or two or three hospitals to buy....big money.
4th: It needs to be sorted out before id want to fly in it. Guaranteed they will crash some early-on
Just my humble opinion. Please state your opinion of the 609.....im very interested in learning what others think about this technology.
[This message has been edited by Larry (edited 05 March 2001).]
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To Larry:
I guess it would depend on your geographical location. I fly EMS in the "Great White North" and our average sector length is 120 nm, with some sectors in excess of 200. Icing is also a real problem from November to April , having an aircraft that could handle ice and get out of the weather would be a big plus. For IFR being able to pick alternate airports that aren't being influnced by local weather systems would also be a plus.
IHL
[This message has been edited by IHL (edited 01 March 2001).]
I guess it would depend on your geographical location. I fly EMS in the "Great White North" and our average sector length is 120 nm, with some sectors in excess of 200. Icing is also a real problem from November to April , having an aircraft that could handle ice and get out of the weather would be a big plus. For IFR being able to pick alternate airports that aren't being influnced by local weather systems would also be a plus.
IHL
[This message has been edited by IHL (edited 01 March 2001).]