Medical helicopters and the DZ.....

[iluvtofly 0]

So STATMedEvac has decided to set up a new base at the local airport. Just so happens to be the same airport my DZ is at. I'm not 100% sure where at the airport their base is going to be. I'm hoping it'll be at the opposite end of the runway that the DZ is on.

Anyway, my concern is how much it might interfere with jumping when they're taking off/landing? Anyone else have this same situation at their DZ?

On the bright side you know they'll be close if anyone gets hurt.

[CSpenceFLY 1]

Skydive Alabama has Lifeflight on their field. They have no problems but I have seen where some lifeflight companys can make asses out of themselves.

[iluvtofly 0]

Well, seeing as this is STATMedEvac and not LifeFlight (though we do deal with both companies sometimes) maybe we'll get lucky and they'll be nice.


Right now they've set up station at the Ambulance Company I work at until their new place is built. They seem like a really nice group of people so far. I'm trying to see if they'll take me for a ride and let me jump out.

[Zee 0]

Shouldn't be a problem. They have helicopter and fixed wing flight training at Harvey Field where Skydive Snohomish is located. It was never a problem when I worked up there....

Action©Sports

[futuredivot 0]

Now would be a good time to start building relationships-even if it means giving away a few tandems. These guys are profesionals, but due to the nature of their calls, some tend to take the most direct line out-make sure they know you're there and that they like you.

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[skydiveoc 0]

You need to keep an emergency scanner with you at all times and be packed and ready to go if you want to catch a ride. Our lifeflight guys were always pissed when they had the blades turning to go to an emergency and there I am running to the bird trying to get my chest strap on.

They were always game for TFA though.

[CSpenceFLY 1]

I used Life Flight as a generic term. One can be as bad as the other if they don't understand the skydiving operation.

[DougH 270]

We have a helicopter training school at our dz.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[AggieDave 6]

We have PHI (a medical helicopter service) at our airport and on our DZ. Get to know them and sit down to work out the different problems that may come up. They will take off if we haven't left the plane yet, while flying away from our landing area. Or they'll spin up and count canopies waiting for the go ahead to leave.

All in all we haven't had a single instance of a problem involving conflicts with jumpers and jump ops. In fact they have helped us out with some of the minor injury situations from hard landings and people's mistakes. Its nice having them around sometimes.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[JSBIRD 1]

Quote

Now would be a good time to start building relationships-even if it means giving away a few tandems. These guys are profesionals, but due to the nature of their calls, some tend to take the most direct line out-make sure they know you're there and that they like you.

That's damn good advice.

If you give a few tandem jumps to these helo pilots, you have changed their status, from one of 'Them', to one of 'Us'.

Then they will look out for you just like family.

BASE359

"Now I've settled down,
in a quiet little town,
and forgot about everything"

[futuredivot 0]

Ah, you public servants all stick together

Oh, me and my pal had a pretty good time in new Orleans-thanks again

You are only as strong as the prey you devour

[BillyVance 34]

Quote

Skydive Alabama has Lifeflight on their field. They have no problems but I have seen where some lifeflight companys can make asses out of themselves.

But you won't see the Lifeflight team at Cullman being assholes, because one of our own works for them!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Fozz 0]

Cyndi

We have a medevac (Reach I think) on the NW corner of Lodi. They are very careful and usually takeoff/approach to and from the North or West and stay reasonably low to a pretty good distance.

I never worry about them but keep and eye out anyway the unit is bright red and easy to see.

Its VERY NICE that they are 2 min away if needed

Do make the effort to bring them into the fold though

John Fosgate
"In the end, its always best to choose the hard right over the easy wrong." LouDiamond
MB 4310
www.N3Racing.com

[Nutz 0]

Quote

Skydive Alabama has Lifeflight on their field. They have no problems but I have seen where some lifeflight companys can make asses out of themselves.

There is helicopter training on the airport as well. They listen to the radio quite well and aviod us accordingly.
Like Billy said, one of the lifeflight guys is a jumper and he has us moon the other pilots at times depending on who is flying.

Oh, having them on the airport has saved at least one jumper's life. Skydive Alabama is a member so if we need them it doesn't cost the jumper anything - something to think about.

"Don't! Get! Eliminated!"

[skybeergodd 0]

When quantum Leap was still open we had ARCH( air medical) on the same airport and had absolutely zero problems or issues. The crews even would hang out and watch the jumpers. They even saw a tandem cut away while returning from a trip, followed the main down, landed in the field and brought the canopy back to us. How's that for service!!

[virulindex 0]

I think it would be cool to have them at the DZ in their own hangar and with their own helipad. Last weekend at Taft there was some issue and the chopper had to fly out to pick someone up and they touched down in the runway about 50 yards from the Otter and shut down jumping for probably half an hour or so.

If they had their own place it might not interfere with Skydive Taft's operation.

Though I'm super new so I don't know how often that even happens. It might be so infrequent it doesn't really matter all that much except that ST might lose a load for that day.

[dropdeded 0]

Quote

I think it would be cool to have them at the DZ in their own hangar and with their own helipad. Last weekend at Taft there was some issue and the chopper had to fly out to pick someone up and they touched down in the runway about 50 yards from the Otter and shut down jumping for probably half an hour or so.

If they had their own place it might not interfere with Skydive Taft's operation.

Though I'm super new so I don't know how often that even happens. It might be so infrequent it doesn't really matter all that much except that ST might lose a load for that day.

I was on a cessna load couple years back at Taft and Hall's (also my employer) chopper came in. Long as we were waiting, might as well get a little more altitude
I remember watching out the window at that thing by the runway with the big spinny thing on top. We were cleared to jump, I stared at that thing all the way down and it did lift off, hard right turn, while we were under canopy.

dropdeded

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