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I prefer the Cork air ambulance that is a private venture. They have basically ICU equipment on board and a doctore flying weith them. This is the wasy to do it. Together with IFR. My suggestion would be to take the 139s and convert them to propeer ambulance choppers, give the pilots night vision goggles so they can operate as close to 24/7 as possible. We'll also need them to transfer patients much more with the plan to have a few specialised trauma centers in the country.
This sounds like a good use for them. Then buy some real military choppers.
Does that Cork medevac helicopter service operate as a charitable trust with corporate sponsorship or a corporate outfit set up as a service provider? Down under both the charitable trust approach and service provider model are the common governance model for medevac services.
Kind of related to this and of possible interest is that last year Starflight one of the OZ aviation service providers who does medevac and firefighting will soon operate ten refurbished and zero-houred ex US Army UH-60's with an option for another ten.
I prefer the Cork air ambulance that is a private venture. They have basically ICU equipment on board and a doctore flying weith them. This is the wasy to do it. Together with IFR. My suggestion would be to take the 139s and convert them to propeer ambulance choppers, give the pilots night vision goggles so they can operate as close to 24/7 as possible. We'll also need them to transfer patients much more with the plan to have a few specialised trauma centers in the country.
This sounds like a good use for them. Then buy some real military choppers.
Does that Cork medevac helicopter service operate as a charitable trust with corporate sponsorship or a corporate outfit set up as a service provider? Down under both the charitable trust approach and service provider model are the common governance model for medevac services.
Kind of related to this and of possible interest is that last year Starflight one of the OZ aviation service providers who does medevac and firefighting will soon operate ten refurbished and zero-houred ex US Army UH-60's with an option for another ten.
My understanding of ICAA is that it is a charitable organisation purely charity funded (no corporate sponsor). They need to raise €1M to get it off the ground and €2M annually to run the service with a EC135.
Once the Lifeport system and equipment is in a AW139 it has (AFAIK) every it needs. I agree a trauma doctor (and AC AP/crewman) would be a big advantage.
The pilots already have NVG and are trained in their use.
Why is EAS daylight only?
(a) the AC probably doesn’t have enough pilots to do it 24/7
(b) much more importantly, HEMS type work such as this is the most dangerous type of (civvy) flying possible, doing it at night increases the risk massively.
If any HEMS service was to do 24/7 they will only ever do it to preselected lit HLZs.
much more importantly, HEMS type work such as this is the most dangerous type of (civvy) flying possible, doing it at night increases the risk massively.
one would assume that military personnel should be able to handle dangerous flying and be able to command resources that are not availab;le to civvies? A FLIR pod on the chopper migfht help for instance?
For transports from regular hospitals to traume centres that would do just fine
one would assume that military personnel should be able to handle dangerous flying and be able to command resources that are not availab;le to civvies? A FLIR pod on the chopper migfht help for instance?
Hardly any hospitals in this country have their own (proper) helipad - it is normally a nearby airport, park or sports pitch that is utilised. The AW139 has access to FLIR and NVG but NVG at least create depth perception issues and neither will help you see things like wires.
Just because they are military personnel doesn’t mean they are immune to risk, danger or error. Even if they are the civvy doctor/AP, the patient, the people around the HLZ most certainly aren’t.
You look at the risks, you assess them, you see what you can do to mitigate them and if it’s still to risky - you don’t do it. We are talking about min 4 people on the helo excluding patient - you don’t risk life unnecessarily.
Generally doctors used on HEMS flights have 1 of 3/4 specialities (I can’t remember the others), different organisations do it differently
Hardly any hospitals in this country have their own (proper) helipad.
Yup, this should be changed at the same time, so there is a reasonable network and an ambulance for instance can pick up a patient at night and proceed to the nearest helipad with hospital. Primary care given in ambulance (which also should have a doctor) and local hospital until chopper arrives.
Yup, this should be changed at the same time, so there is a reasonable network and an ambulance for instance can pick up a patient at night and proceed to the nearest helipad with hospital. Primary care given in ambulance (which also should have a doctor) and local hospital until chopper arrives.
There isn’t enough doctors in hospitals.
NAS needs more APs. Paramedics and APs need to be able to refer and discharge patients within their capabilities
I like the ICRR model (although it isn’t really fair to rely on good will). I would tend to agree that maybe there should be an AC crewman(AP) and a doctor on EAS
Only 4 of the countries model 4 hospitals have helipads (2 of them have unrestricted access for IRCG S92s), only 1 operational helipad on campus in Dublin and only 1 helipad in the country that has direct access to A&E
Only 4 of the countries model 4 hospitals have helipads (2 of them have unrestricted access for IRCG S92s), only 1 operational helipad on campus in Dublin and only 1 helipad in the country that has direct access to A&E
would that mean that should the IAC get this role, it is going to paint its existing helis luminous yellow and use them for air ambulance from now on or that they will get a new fleet of air ambulance choppers?
with the reduction to a few major trauma centers in the country I'd be very much in favour. Use the 139s for that and buy some proper military choppers.
We have 6 AW 139, right? Paint 5 bright orance and fit them out permanently as the best air ambulance you can imagine. paint one in a civilian govt livery and fit it out as a VIP transport.
Then replace them with a 10t chopper that also replaces the S92s for SAR and bring back SAR to the Air Corps. And buy some more of the same chopper for when we have a ship to put them on (I vote Cougar, but AW 149 and *hawk are options too. AW149 would probably benefit from significant communality with AW 139)
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