Author Topic: 24hr Air Ambulance service (Read 3372 times)

Lurk · « **on:** October 17, 2003, 09:18:32 pm »

In light of the Air Corps mismanagement of quite a few matters, I would be loath to give them any further responsibility. Since the first alouette air ambulance mission, they have set back and never evaluated the needs of the country. When real air ambulance was available all over the rest of Europe, they remained a ferry service for patients from hospital to hospital, carrying those that road ambulance could not carry on Irish roads, such as spinal injuries. Nowadays, when air ambulance is spoken of, it is the roadside quick response kind that is referred to.

While I agree with the reasoning that as our Air Corps, they should provide all state services, it is both unfortunate and factual, that they just cannot do it because of funding, poor management, and the unchanging culture.

Perhaps the Air Service is a better idea after all. If the Air Corps were a public company, their shares would be at rock bottom, or they would be in liquidation.

I firmly beleive that only radical re structuring of the "company", the appointment of new management from outside the corps, and a change of direction can save it. Its great to read the annual report published, and to see the theoretical and aspirational functions that are addressed. But its not happening.

I am not anti Air Corps. I would love to support the organisation that I have been a member of. But I do not support waste and mismanagement in any outfit, military or civil. To give the current Air Corps rersponsibility for air ambulance /casevac / medevac would be a disaster, and would deny the public the service they deserve, and that we would all be paying for.

FiannaFail · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2003, 10:39:45 pm »

Silver and FMolloy,
I couldn't agree with you both more. I am afraid PDoff lost the plot somewhere. A dedicated service means just that. Personally I feel some other service should provide it thus allowing us to priorities on our military role but ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE A HELPING HAND IF NECESSARY.

FiannaFail ':cool:'

P.Doff · « **Reply #2 on:** October 18, 2003, 12:01:54 pm »

No I havnt lost the plot. Let me explain. The Aircorps have a dedicated air ambulance role as such, but not a dedicated aircraft! When a call for an air ambulance comes in, the lads usually have an hour or so in the emergency case's to convert the CASA to its Ambulance configuration, ie: remove the rear panels and stuff to allow rear ramp access. Unfortunatly, it cant stay this way for its Maritme role due to crew comfort and certain storage cabinets which are romved for the Air ambulance role.The Beech and the Helis dont need as much preparation but again their primary roles are not medivac. I did understand your question Silver, I just got hacked off at certain peoples comments. The lads and lasses of the Aircorps work long hours and are dedicated to whatever role is asked of them so you can understand my touchy-ness about things!!

sealion · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2003, 09:34:31 pm »

The wolfe Tones(spit!!) had a song about that breakout..called the Helicopter song....
Cadet Mc Farlane was the only Irish member of the Martin Baker club..seems he had to walk home after..
And the depth charge failure was a sign of another era of Defence forces decline caused by FF governments. It was gods grace alone that nobody died in that unfortunate incident, though few were injured,and men who acted heroically on that day had their lifesaving actions go unrewarded by an establishment that would have preferred to brush it under the carpet.

But this is an Air Corpse board

Silver · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2003, 02:20:06 pm »

No worries P.Doff.

Are the CASA's used much for AA duties ?
Actually which aircraft is used the most in this role (Alouette?) ?

FiannaFail · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2003, 09:59:28 pm »

Lurk,
You have me scratching....Twoomey, McFarlane but who was the third?......Anyone got Joe Cahill's book on them, it must be mentioned in it. The right wing British media went beserk at the time which made us all chuckle! Silver you are really only a child. Do you remember the army run refugee camps along the border in the late 60s? And the talk of our boys taking Derry and Newry, ah those were the times!! And all the Derry IRA men enrolling in the FCA in Buncranna to get military training!! Meanwhile it was Fianna Fail who maintained the thin blue line and preserved peace in the twenty six counties. And the Reimes Rockets protolling the border everyday. You didn't know what you were missing Silver. Exciting times. So anybody, who was the third IRA lifted from the 'joy's recreation yard ?
FiannaFail

'>

P.Doff · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2003, 03:23:12 pm »

The CASA's are used on average about twice a month. These are for cases that need treatment abroad, like the young baby that was flown to Newcastle in the UK recently.The Beech is used to transport organs and their support crews more than actual patients. The Alouettes(mostly) and Dauphins are used the most. On average I'd say at least once a week!!

Silver · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2003, 10:30:32 pm »

Well I have been around for over three decades FF, so I could hardly be classed as a child anymore

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Jeez, how old are you anyway

'>

« **Reply #8 on:** November 04, 2003, 07:43:07 pm »

The major difficulty with the Air Corps providing a 24 Hr dedicated HEMS helicopter is that they do not yet use NVG for night approaches to unlit areas. Even the Dauphin would find that next to impossible. There have been a number of HEMS style day landings at RTA's throughout the country mostly by Alouettes as listed by P.Diddy. The skill level is there, but the equipment is not up to it for 24 Hr use. Even a civil operator would take years to get certification to use NVG, because the IAA don't want to know about anything that pushes the boundaries of 'normality'. I think that the argument of keeping the life saving to civilians is flawed. Practising these type of approaches in peacetime would be as challenging as doing it 'for real' overseas. Most HEMS operators have military background. Oh, and lots of HEMS aircraft crash... At the end of the day, it will take a new helicopter type to be purchased for the Corps before they can even think about routine night roadside approaches. One that's NVG compatible too!

Silver · « **Reply #9 on:** October 18, 2003, 03:27:37 pm »

Wow! Even I didn't realise that the Corps did that much AA work ! - so imagine what the average person would know about this unsung work by the AC

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Silver · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2003, 10:34:20 pm »

And FF, I would not call the violence and murders in the north "exciting".

« **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2003, 07:53:59 pm »

Oh yeah, and an Alouette can be airborne 3 mins after you turn the booster pump on. The pilots have a lot of faith in their technicians and will forego the preflight in an emergency. it just happened that the aircraft was suitably equipped for a previous mission that was cancelled. No need to cast doubt on that 4 min claim so...

FMolloy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2003, 12:19:20 pm »

How can you agree with both of us, FF? My point was contrary to Silvers.

FiannaFail · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2003, 10:35:37 pm »

Silver,
Did you Mammy ever tell you never to ask a lady her age?
FiannaFailXXX

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Silver · « **Reply #14 on:** November 04, 2003, 08:34:47 pm »

Hi scorpy,
Welcome to the board.

It's good to see Air Corps techies getting the high praise they deserve !
We usually only hear about techies when they are been (undeservedly) slagged off.

What type of heli do you think would be most suitable for HEMS work ?
I notice that a lot of such services in the US and UK use the EC-135/145 or MD500.

Regarding NVG's, I thought they could be used somewhat independently of the heli, so-to-speak.
I read somewhere about pilots using NVG's in older helis (I think it was the French AF).

Silver.

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