What helicopter do you fly in? *poll*

What helicopter do you fly in?

  • AW139

    Votes: 2 11.8%

  • Airbus BK117

    Votes: 1 5.9%

  • Bell 407

    Votes: 1 5.9%

  • Other

    Votes: 11 64.7%

  • EC135

    Votes: 3 17.6%
  • Total voters
    17
C

CWATT

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I’ve been flying on the AW139 as of late. Man that is one sweet rig, but I’m told by the senior guys that it makes a significant difference if you got the ‘air medical’ unfitting completed by the manufacture or third-party.


- C
 
Our County Third Service EMS Agency does not have any helicopters. However, the Fire Department has two McDonnell-Douglas MD 520N No Tail Rotor (NOTAR®) helicopters. They can drop water on brush fires with Bambi buckets and can fly in members of the department's rescue squads to remote areas and sling load injured patients out from hiking trails/ocean rescues where they'll be delivered to ground EMS units at the staging area for ground transport to the hospital.

http://www.honolulu.gov/cms-hfd-menu/site-hfd-sitearticles/1407-helicopter.html

http://militaryaviation.photo/specials/specials_Hawaii_Fire_2016-09.php

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The major airframes our here for HEMS are the Bell 407, AW109, and EC135.

The AW139 is way too heavy to land on the majority of hospital helipads out here.
 
DesertMedic66 said:
The major airframes our here for HEMS are the Bell 407, AW109, and EC135.

The AW139 is way too heavy to land on the majority of hospital helipads out here.
Click to expand...

I forgot about the EC135. Poll is updated.

...and yeah, she’s a big bird but that angled headrotor and space inside is amazing. My only criticism is the significant vibration getting out of and back into the ‘bubble’ during take-off and landing can be a bit much. Some of the pilots do account for this, but their approach sequence is pretty confining they tell me.
 
One of the last few BK117s in the company. Fantastic helicopter for HEMS and it will be hard to replace. The EC145 (aka BK117c2) has a lower lift weight and an insanely long start up.

27581172_786555634867527_8518009927199883264_n.jpg
 
Don't fly much but when I do it's in a Blackhawk. Pretty much only would fly when the patient is critical and the flight medic needs a second set of trained hands. They have a crew chief but they don't have much formal medical training.
 
TXmed said:
True, im hoping the T2's will be better about the start up time
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Apparently they are coming out with an EC145E which will be made in the USA, same as the Army Lakota's, and have single avionics and better weight at a cheaper price. Sounds much more attractive for most HEMS.
 
Used to fly in 206L1 conversions, L3's, and a couple of L4's, and 407's.

Lawn darted in a 206L1 conversion with a fuel extender. Still flew in same airframe afterward. Still have no objection to that airframe now. I flew 400 pounders in them. Still will. It's just your landing zones change. You go horizontal before you even attempt going vertical. Speed is your friend. Airstrips and bean fields are awesome.
 
TXmed said:
True, im hoping the T2's will be better about the start up time
Click to expand...
The new T2’s are nice and have FADEC and significantly less start up to fly time. The new avionics are really nice and the 4 axis autopilot is about as good as you can get!
 
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VFlutter said:
Apparently they are coming out with an EC145E which will be made in the USA, same as the Army Lakota's, and have single avionics and better weight at a cheaper price. Sounds much more attractive for most HEMS.
Click to expand...

The 145E’s or E-lite as you will hear some people call them are definitely geared for SP-VFR type programs.

I came from a SP-IFR 145 program and miss it every single day :(

Currently in an all 135 program, but at least my base is getting a new aircraft in coming month.
 
Rumor is that the Bell 429 is high on the list of possibilities in the future for us.
 
CWATT said:
I’ve been flying on the AW139 as of late. Man that is one sweet rig, but I’m told by the senior guys that it makes a significant difference if you got the ‘air medical’ unfitting completed by the manufacture or third-party.


- C
Click to expand...
Are you flying in an airmedical setting as an EMT? How is the program configured?
 
Tigger said:
Are you flying in an airmedical setting as an EMT? How is the program configured?
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It’s a publically-funded private company that offers interfacility transport and scene call services. We will rendezvous with land services on request and are auto-dispatched on high-acuity calls.


- C
 
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