HELICOPTER OPERATIONS
Helicopter Types
Helicopter Types
• Cormorant
• Messerschmidt
Helicopter Types
Helicopter Types
Helicopter Types - Cormorant
Helicopter Types - Messerschmitt Bo 105
Helicopter Types - Messerschmitt Bo 105
Helicopter Types
• It is also likely that certain civilian helicopters might
be involved with a medical evacuation from a shore
landing site.
Helicopter Uses
Helicopter Uses
•
•
•
•
Transfer of injured persons
Searching
Rescue
Transport of survivors
Transfer of Injured Persons
Transfer of Injured Persons
• To speed up the transport of a patient to an appropriate
facility to improve the patient's survival and recovery?
• To extract a patient where their condition could be
adversely affected by weather, road or wave conditions,
or other factors affecting the use of ground
transportation seriously delay the patient's access to
advanced life support care?
Transfer of Injured Persons
• To provide the clinical skills or equipment needed to
care for the patient during transport.
Information Needed By Helicopter
Information Needed By Helicopter
• Joint Rescue Coordination Centre will request the use
of a helicopter if it is deemed necessary.
Information Needed By Helicopter 1
• RCM-SAR XX
• Exact location of the vessel or accident, Latitude and
Longitude
• Accident location in relation to major landmarks
• Nature of Accident
• Number and relative ages of patients
Information Needed By Helicopter 2
• Types of injuries of patients to be transported
• Have patients been involved in a prolonged
extrication
• Frequency and call signs to communicate with
auxiliary crews from the helicopter
Winching Operations
Winching Operations
• At NO time are winching operations to take place off
an open or partially enclosed rescue vessel. The
dangers of capsize in the rotor down wash is too
great.
• When making a rendezvous with a helicopter, find and
agree with the helicopter a suitable place for the
rescue vessel to put the patient ashore, where the
helicopter can land to pick the casualty up.
Winching Operations
• The helicopter pilot sits in the starboard seat of the
cockpit and the winch is generally fitted above the
starboard main door.
• The vessel likely be requested to steer a course.
• The helicopter will then approach with her head about
30° to 60° to port of the vessel’s course, as this will allow
the pilot to see the vessel and to keep station on it,
whilst any winching manoeuvres take place.
Winching Operations
Winching Operations
• Winching procedures of
helicopters above
vessels should pay
particular attention to
transfer-of-personnel
operations in restricted
visibility or bad
weather.
Winching Operations
• Before authorizing winching operations, the Coxswain
should ascertain that:
1. the deck, overdeck and approach area
(i) are clear of all foreign objects and debris, and
(ii) have all loose objects, including personnel
headgear, secured;
2. members of the deck party are wearing
hardhats;
Winching Operations
Winching Operations
3. the deck party is not to touch the winch wire
until it has been properly grounded to
prevent inadvertent discharge of static
electricity;
4. all personnel to be transferred between the
vessel and the helicopter have been fully
briefed on winching procedures;
5. The winch wire is not to be fastened to the
vessel in any way; and
Winching Operations
6. radio-telephone communications have been
mutually established among the vessel and
the helicopter;
• Generally the helicopter will lower a
crewman to a vessel to properly package a
patient. The crewman’s instructions are to be
followed.
Winching Operations
Landing Site Requirements
Landing Site Requirements
• Where a landing site is needed, it is most likely to be
set up by shore-side rescue authorities or emergency
responders.
• However these slides are included to give some idea
of what is required.
Landing Site Requirements
• The landing area should measure at least 60 feet
square, but preferably larger (around 100 feet square)
1. Obstructions surrounding the site may necessitate
it to be larger.
2. Remember that even though a helicopter may be
able to land along a vertical plane in most
situations, most helicopter pilots will want to have
an approach and takeoff area.
Landing Site Requirements
• Consider the type of ground.
– Don't want an extremely sloped or rocky field
– Notify pilot of any obstructions such as tall grass,
rocks, or loose dirt. The pilots point of view causes
him not to be able to see them until right on top of
them
• Consider possible alternative sites if the accident site or
first landing site chosen is possibly unfeasible.
Landing Site Requirements
Landing Site Requirements
Landing Site Requirements
Marking the Landing Site
• Mark the corners of the site with secure items so
that problems don't occur in the rotor wash.
• Smoke isn’t recommended in this situation because
most first responders in an overzealous mode will
make the site invisible rather than just an edge
Marking the Landing Site
• At night, the landing area should be illuminated, but
take caution not to blind the pilot on landing and
takeoff
– Have vehicles aim lights on low beams into the site
– The helicopter pilot will most likely contact the
ground crew to also turn these off so that the pilot
and crew isn’t blinded on the approach
– All helicopters have some sort of landing light
Marking the Landing Site Continued
• Clear the site of all debris that might get sucked up in
the rotor wash (Failure to do this can cause an
accident to the helicopter)
– Only put signal markers in the center of the
landing area on request of the helicopter pilot.
Marking the Landing Site
Marking the Landing Site
Approaching the Helicopter
• Stay out of the landing site unless accompanied
by a member of the aircrew or directed by an
aircrew member.
• Always approach the helicopter from the front of
the aircraft because of helicopter blind spots and
danger areas.
• Always approach the helicopter in a crouched
position with IVs or long objects carried low or
parallel to the ground
Approaching the Helicopter
• NEVER approach the helicopter unless signaled to do
so by the pilot. Approach from a 90 degree angle.
• NEVER approach the helicopter while the blades are
in motion, unless assisted by the crew.
• AT NO TIME is anyone permitted near the tail of the
helicopter.
Approaching the Helicopter
• DO NOT assist the Flight Crew in the opening or
closing of the helicopter doors.
• DO NOT unload equipment unless requested by the
Flight Crew. The Flight Crew will supervise the
loading of the patient.
• DO NOT smoke within the Landing Zone area.
• DO NOT run near the helicopter.
Approaching the Helicopter
• DO NOT wear caps/hats or have loose items near the
helicopter.
• NO vehicles are to be driven onto the Landing Zone
area.
• DO NOT lift anything higher than your head.
• DO NOT shine bright lights at the helicopter since it
may affect the pilot's night vision
Helicopter Approach Area
Helicopter Approach Area
Safe
Dangerous
Approaching the Helicopter
• When approaching on a slope, approach from
downhill, since the rotor will be closer on the uphill
side normally, if unsure wait for an escort from the
flight crew.
• Never walk around in the tail rotor area.
Helicopter Approach Area
General Guidelines
• Transferring patient(s) from the team litter to the
helicopter litter is done outside of the landing
area
• Only the flight crew will open and close the doors
or compartments on the helicopter
• All unauthorized personnel should stay out of the
landing area.
Final Thoughts
Helicopters don’t fly - they just beat the air into
submission!