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IHL

Drop me your postal address and will send you a copy of our latest issue for your perusal.

PR :cool:

IHL, isn't there a base in Halifax where you guys operate s76's as well?

Almost Canadian hey.
That is correct CHL (Canadian Helicopters Ltd)does operate a S76 in Halifax , doing EMS (EHS) work for the Nova Scotia, Government. Canadian Helicopters International operates a 76 and a couple of 61s on Offshore operations.

IHL

IHL,
Did the Bandage program recently get rid of one of their S-76's? I saw an orange Sikorsky in a local shop being re-painted for a Childrens Hospital out in California. That orange paint scheme was hideous.

DPW:

Canadian Helicopters Limited has not sold any of their S76s. I don't know about Canadian Helicopters International, but I doubt it.Older S76 aircraft are at a premium now and are hard to find. CHI converts alot of their older 76s to A++ models.

Canadian's colours are Blue, Red , and White.
The orange paint scheme is now Ontario Ambulance colours.

IHL

I asked some flying medical personnel their opinion on this, their various experiences covered 206, 206L, 222, 212, BK117, Dauphin and SK76 as well as untold fixed wing, but kind of hard to do an onscene call with a Lear, right?
The overwhelming preference was for exactly what the Ontario Ministry of Health has on contract. The S-76.
The room inside, the ride, the space required to land and the noise associated.
The Dauphin, 222 and BK are just smaller enough than the 76 to be too small. The 212 is a great workhorse, too slow, too rough and really hard on the neighbours. I've watched lots of medics score an I.V. inflight on the first try in a 76, it can be done in a 212 but not with such consistent success.
That's what some medics say, anyway...
Some basic things I believe a dedicated medevac machine should have is two engines and night/IFR qualified. After that, you have to have something that works well for the patients, because that is really the main reason for the service, right? If the medics can work well within the confines of the selected aircraft, now you only have to make it nice for the pilots, but the patient should be the first one considered.

hands down the Bell 412

"IHL,
Did the Bandage program recently get rid of one of their S-76's? I saw an orange Sikorsky in a local shop being re-painted for a Childrens Hospital out in California. That orange paint scheme was hideous. "

Yes , that S-76 from Chilrens Hospital is in LA and has been for over a year. I just saw it the other day launching on a mission.
Nice paint scheme. Its only used for hospital transfers and not on-scene work.
LA City Fire Dept Air ops handles all on-scene missions.

Skip

Careflight Australia Launches New EMS Koala

Sydney, Australia based Careflight had the official launch of their brand new A-119 Koala at Darling Harbour today.

We then went and did some air to air pics of it over Sydney Harbour and it looks fantastic.

As of 3.00pm this afternoon it was out at Orange at their new hangar and begins operations in approx a weeks time. From what I understand its the worlds first dedicated EMS Koala.

Does that mean it's going to sit in a gum tree all day and sleep?

Any chance of a piccy (or link to one)?

PacRotors :

Is that one that Bill Miller has managed to sell them ?

Capital Helicopters sold it to them, but thats all they did. In the latest Australian Aviation magazine they sent out a press release saying they were doing all the fit out, but that was a load of bull!!!! as Careflight did it themselves.

If anyone wants to see an image of it, drop me an email and I will send you one.

Best EMS Helicopter?

Press Release

Quote:

Eurocopter Announces Ten Aircraft Order for the EC 130

Rocky Mountain Helicopters to Buy EC 130s for EMS Operations

Grand Prairie, TX

Quote:

Rocky Mountain Helicopter's Chairman and CEO Russ Spray and Jean-Francois Bigay Eurocopter's President and CEO have just signed a contract at the Paris Air Show for the acquisition of 10 EC 130 B4 helicopters.

Rocky Mountain Helicopters, one of the leading providers of air medical services in the United States, has been a long time Eurocopter operator. The ten EC 130s are additional aircraft which will expand their fleet to 95 aircraft.

The EC 130 B4 is the newest member of the venerable AStar (Ecureuil) family. With 23 percent more cabin space than other AStar versions, the EC 130 still offers the same efficiency and performance that these aircraft are known for.

In commenting on the purchase, Rocky Mountain's Chairman and CEO Russ Spray stated, "The EC 130 is an excellent aircraft for the operational requirements of today's EMS mission. We've been very happy with our AStars, as have our customers," Spray continued, "but the larger cabin of the 130 gives us the ability to accommodate the additional medical equipment and personnel that is required for some medical procedures. The open cabin also provides dual patient access, which is not usually feasible in a single-engine aircraft.

"With the EC 130 we can offer our customers the ability to step up to an aircraft that can accommodate the additional equipment, and still have the power to provide the necessary speed and range," Spray added. Rocky Mountain, in conjunction with Eurocopter, will design and install the EMS interiors. "We plan to offer a flexible design to accommodate different medical equipment requirements and patient configurations couple of different options," commented Spray.

"We also plan to get our customers' input on the interior, much like Eurocopter did with the design of the EC 130 itself." The EC 130 evolved from a customer focus group that met regularly with Eurocopter to determine what was needed in a new product. The result was the launch of the EC 130 B4 at this year's Heli-Expo in February.

Is the EC130 the best EMS helicopter?
Or not?
What do you think?

Single engine.....never be allowed to operate in the UK for EMS/Police work, would have hoped that the Americans would get real and play safe when dealing in built up areas and IFR environments. Sums up most of the operations State side....cheap, the mighty Dollar first, Safety second. Given their litigious nature you would think it would be the other way around.

The EC 130

The EC 130 B4 is the new 7-8 seat single engine helicopter in the Eurocopter product range offering particular qualities of silence, comfort and spaciousness. It features a low external noise emission, 8.5dB under the ICAO requirement. This is achieved by the low noise "Fenestron" and the automatic control of the rotor RPM. The very roomy and modular cabin, has a low internal noise level, and all seats comply with FAA regulations in terms of energy absorption. The EC 130 B4 is powered by a Turbomeca ARRIEL 2B1 turbine engine, complete with dual channel digital engine control system (FADEC), and a back-up control box that automatically controls the engine in case of total failure of both digital channels of the FADEC.

From a seriously ill patient perspective ( I've not been one, touch wood ) I suppose the best EMS helicopter is the one that gets you to hospital inside the golden hour.

NRDK: I said just the same thing about litigation to someone the other day while discussing HEMS in the US.

Gentelman, I agree with you on the issue of twin engine helicopters in the HEMS application concerning safety. However, the reality is profit, but not the grubby profit as is sometimes thought of. Some hospitals are just not making enough money to pay for the twin engine helicopter they really want. The only choice, due to profit, is a single engine. Granted,it is not the best answer, but it is an answer. I would prefer a triple engine for safety with a flight crew of three!! In reality the best helicopter is the one that serves the patient best by getting them to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Isnt the new EC-130 actually slower than the B-3.

If it is I thought they would have gone for something faster. I suppose if the ones they are buying are replacing programs that have the normal AS-350s then at least the new aircraft will have some extra room in the cabin for the crews.

:confused:

NRDK
Do you have any evidence to back up your 'safety' theory, or are your sweeping anti-American generalisations just prejudice?
Are s/e heli's falling out of the sky all over US cities? I don't think so.
Is the American safety record any worse/better than ours?
Does getting 'real' mean that the FAA should assume that the CAA knows best?
Some (including me) might think the Americans know a thing or two about aviation matters and the CAA could learn a lot from the FAA. But, as ever, we Brits think we know best about everything. We always do, with characteristic (and embarrassing) arrogance.
Operating s/e would mean more EMS helicopters and more lives saved. We should follow the American example.

Great to see a major US operator buying European helicopters! :)

Hello all,
Not the old single or twin debate again!

I have a couple of points/ questions ;

1. Is an HEMS service with a single ,better than no hems service at all?

2. Is a new single safer than an old twin ?

I am only playing devils advocate , but I hope you can see my line of thought.

I know a twin will always be regarded as the safer option, but how relative is the newness of the machine (the argument for using a NEW model like the EC130 is a whole different argument again I would have thought)

Regards

Hover Bover

[ 10 July 2001: Message edited by: hoverbover ]