Author Topic: 24hr Air Ambulance service (Read 3354 times)

Silver · « **Reply #45 on:** November 10, 2003, 11:30:33 pm »

I wonder would we get AA Ireland to sponsor an Air Ambulance

:'>

MD Helicopters MD902,
Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

The Eurocopter BO 105 also seems to be a popular choice for AA/HEMS ops.

Have a look at this link for details and pics of UK AA services -
http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/misc/blues2.htm

N.B. - Bond Helicopters (former providers of our Coast Guard helis) operate quite a few of the UK AA services.

Lurk · « **Reply #46 on:** October 21, 2003, 07:40:59 pm »

P.Diddy, if you are in No3, you would be aware of the startup time for an Alouette, ie, about 15 minutes. How can you say
the call was received and the heli lifted within 4 mins from the don? Can we also assume the Alouette was configured with just the right stretcher and equipment for the call you relate to? Perhaps you can tell us where and when the accident took place? I can make a phone call that would clarify things for everyone. Maybe you are in No3, but if so, please be factual. The Air Corps do not do roadside air ambulance. They do hospital to hospital, or hospital to landing site, for further movement by road.

The hijacking of the heli was the Mountjoy prison breakout. At Hallowe'en 1973 Three political prisoners - JB O'Hagan, Seamus Twomey and Kevin Mallon were lifted by helicopter from the exercise yard of Mountjoy Jail's D Wing.

Lurk · « **Reply #47 on:** October 23, 2003, 10:42:19 pm »

Thanks, Lude, probably so. It is not the policy of the Air Corps to do this, as it is not within the mission profile. I refer to matters in previous posts about startup times, and roadside service, as some of the information coming to the board seemed a little enhanced. The Air Corps will assist in casevac where necessary, but the primary "ambulance" role is the ferrying of victims from one hospital to another. Some of the hospitals, such as Beaumont, although having a helipad, cannot generally use them. A patient conveyed by air for delivery to a unit there, has to land elsewhere, and the rest of the journey is done by road. Stranger than fiction, But true.

FiannaFail · « **Reply #48 on:** October 21, 2003, 08:04:07 pm »

Ah yes the heli escape from the Joy. Remember it well. One of the escapees was Seamus Twoomey, O/C Provos in Belfast. They used a highjacked Irish Helicopters (Bell) ....with an English pilot!!! The exclusion zones around Irish Prisons soon followed.
Loved to hear some more old stories from aviation history. You all remember the Vampire ejection over Co Cavan? And when a deep-charge exploded prematurely damaging one of the Irish Naval Service Corvettes? While the media were on board on a publicity trip!
I am sure Silver has plenty of old stories to recount! Lets all hear them.
FiannaFail

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p.diddy.cool · « **Reply #49 on:** October 24, 2003, 04:40:46 pm »

My dear friend lurk!,

The start up time for an al 3 is not fifteen mins, much shorter! and yes the Air Corps do carry out roadside air ambulance! If a call comes in the heli will go, it doesnt matter where the patient is, roadside or hospital!, i will provide you with the times asap, and you can make ur phone call.

And yes even though most hospitals have heli pads, most are u/s for various reasons, each pad must fulfill a list of questions, and in no.3 there is a folder which contains all S and U/s pads including pictures. And just to give u an example of how much detail the unit goes into, if for say we are flying down country and we see a pad, we will mark it on a map and then see if we can use it for various things.. ie refeuling point etc...

regards P.D.C

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Silver · « **Reply #50 on:** October 21, 2003, 09:20:58 pm »

Not really FF...... I'm not that old.
And besides, my interest in the Air Corps (and the Defence Forces) only really started in 1996.

':p'

Lurk · « **Reply #51 on:** October 24, 2003, 11:46:53 pm »

PDC, you say startup for an AL3 is less than 15 mins. Would it be 4? You would be lucky to have engine alone started in that time let alone rotors as well. The pilots pre flight check is five minutes alone.
I dont say roadside has never been done, its just so unusual, and is not part of mission profile. Air Corps Air Ambulance requires medical staff other than aircrew on board.

John K · « **Reply #52 on:** October 26, 2003, 04:20:04 pm »

I think the 15 minutes refers to the time taken to remove the seats and install the stretcher rails. If the a/c was already configured and had just been DI'd the pre flight would be quick and 4 mins to lift of wouldn't be unreasonable. Another, potentially serious, episode occured when one of the hunger strikers was being transferred to hospital in an A3 in the '70s, I don't remember the prisoners name but as the a/c was in flight he made a lunge for the pilot, luckily the crewman (F**n), on the ball as usual, managed to suppress him!
Anyone asked woolie about his daring rescue yet? And FF give it up you're not, nor ever have been, in the Air Corps. The only 'chopper' you've handled was around the back of the Garda Boat Club!

p.diddy.cool · « **Reply #53 on:** October 28, 2003, 07:17:05 pm »

Lurk,

Again you are wrong and ill have to state that my previous posts were not enhanced for anyones viewing pleasure, including my own!, the whole Air Ambulance thing has gotten out of hand, if a call comes in requesting that an IAC helicopter respond to a call, it will go! regardless if its written or not! ask any heli pilot up there... provided its daylight hours, weather, fueling etc is all ok!... and the point about medical staff is also incorrect, if its a long transfer and depending on the patient condition a doctor or nurse, or both will travel using the crewmans EMT skills as required, sometimes the crew are the only ones with the patients treating them, Tory Island is a regular one!.

Regards P.D.C

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Silver · « **Reply #54 on:** October 15, 2003, 11:01:08 pm »

Who should operate the dedicated 24-hour Air Ambulance service, if it ever gets off the ground (pardon the pun !) ?

p.diddy.cool · « **Reply #55 on:** October 15, 2003, 11:05:15 pm »

hi everyone,

i think the Air Corps should actively research this area, it may open the doors for more funding and better helis..... ( Slim ONE ) but hey i'll try anything......

Slan leat!

Turkey · « **Reply #56 on:** October 16, 2003, 12:38:05 pm »

Yup, the Air Corps should run it, I think all government air services should be run by the Air Corps, obviously with a bigger budget, except ministerial transport, they should make those dopes walk!

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Vmax · « **Reply #57 on:** October 16, 2003, 04:50:11 pm »

A feasibility study has been carried out to establish an all island air ambulance service (do not know whether that is including HEMS), to include 4 helis based strategically, belfast, dublin, cork and galway and provided by a private contractor.

from what i have heard the report has looked very favourably at establishing this service and are in the process of trying to find funds and hopefully will be implemented in conunction with what The Hanley report has advised (see todays newspapers re the Hanley report) on restructing the health service.

FiannaFail · « **Reply #58 on:** October 16, 2003, 08:13:48 pm »

Great poll Silver.
Always making us think that little extra. Having given this issue very serious thought especially with my IAC history and love of military aviation I have come to think that our services should specialise in pilot training, Mats, fishery protection, air defence and troop carrying. Life saving activities should be left to other agencies but we can always give an extra hand in emergences.
What do you think Silver?
Keep up the good work.
FiannaFail

:'>

Silver · « **Reply #59 on:** October 16, 2003, 11:21:38 pm »

I understand why people would vote for a private company to do the job, there is merit in that argument.

However, if the Air Ambulance service was properly funded and equipped, would it not be better to have one agency (i.e. The Air Corps) operating all state helicopter services ?

With SAR, the white paper recommended that the AC operate this service as it was more cost effective in the long term than paying a contractor.

Just look at the cost of the Air Corps S-61 based in Sligo - €16 million over c.4 years !

We could have bought a helicopter for that money !!!

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