[xflyer]

So it's official now they've gone for the no additional funding, better than nothing but at least it looks like we're doing something approach. The Irish solution.

The comments in the newspaper article summarise it nicely. It's supposed to be an 'all Ireland' service, just don't have your accident in Donegal or Cork. It's not a HEMS service just patient transfer. Little different to what the Air Corps do now.

Also it's a further civilianisation of the Air Corps. It removes one of their helicopters from any other role. I wonder what the crewing implications will be? Will it be a popular job for aircrew or will they have to 'volunteered'.

On a positive note once it's in place. It's limitations will soon be evident. Which will make the case nicely for a full HEMS service.

[Quaderno]

Originally Posted by xflyer

On a positive note once it's in place. It's limitations will soon be evident. Which will make the case nicely for a full HEMS service.

And here we go: http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0521/media-3293486.html
They did come up with the term "aero-medical support helicopter", never heard that before...

[xflyer]

Saw that piece on RTE. Noted it's now for the 'western seaboard'. In the real world if it's used at all it will be concentrated within about a fifty mile radius. Somehow I cannot see it ever getting a run to Donegal or Cork.

Better than nothing is the best you can say about it.

[mayotom]

Originally Posted by Quaderno

And here we go: http://www.rte.ie/news/av/2012/0521/media-3293486.html
They did come up with the term "aero-medical support helicopter", never heard that before...

Wouldn't want to be waiting 50 minutes after having a heart attack or stroke

[Klunk001]

As this "aero medical service" is being launced to the public the Dublin based IRCG helo is doing this.

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...m-3116934.html

[vulcan57]

Originally Posted by mayotom

Wouldn't want to be waiting 50 minutes after having a heart attack or stroke

That's only for the helicopter to get to you! You've then got to be loaded onto the helicopter and then flown to the Hospital. I could quite see, in some circumstances, it being more like 90 mins to get hospital treatment. A heli service is definitely needed and this a good start, but can't help thinking one helicopter is really enough.

[Nforce]

I wonder if the Air Ambulance role will be postponed following this...

Eurocopter’s EC135 helicopters will require regular visual inspections after cracks were found in an area where rotor blades are attached, Europe’s air safety authority said.
Cracks have been located so far on three helicopters, the European Air Safety Agency said in an emergency airworthiness directive issued May 17, though the cause hasn’t yet been determined.
The EC135, which seats one or two pilots and five to six passengers, is widely used by governmental organizations including police forces, and by individuals and corporations. There are more than 1,000 in operation today flown by 270 customers in 58 countries, according to Eurocopter, a unit of European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co.
A spokeswoman for Eurocopter said it was too early to judge the seriousness of the cracks, given that the cause hasn’t yet been identified.
“EASA is closing monitoring the outcomes of the investigations performed by Eurocopter Deutschland, and any new potential finding and will amend or mandate new airworthiness actions as necessary,” EASA spokesman Jeremie Teahan said in an e-mailed statement today. Since May 17, no additional cracks have been found, he said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...ear-rotor.html

The IAC aren't having much luck with the entire heli fleet it seems.

[doctorchopper]

Originally Posted by Nforce

I wonder if the Air Ambulance role will be postponed following this...



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-0...ear-rotor.html

The IAC aren't having much luck with the entire heli fleet it seems.

Inspections to the head are to be done every 10 flight hours so i doubt it will effect the air ambulance role.

[Nforce]

I was watching it doing circuits from Custume Barracks for the last couple of days. The flight hours will mount up very quickly . What's the interval for major services on the EC135?

[doctorchopper]

Originally Posted by Nforce

I was watching it doing circuits from Custume Barracks for the last couple of days. The flight hours will mount up very quickly . What's the interval for major services on the EC135?

There is a 100hr inspection which takes about 6hrs but the first major service is 400hrs and the 800 hr is is a bit more intense than the 400

[BEASTERLY]

With all the uninformed bull**** that was being thrown around here from people who have a chip on their shoulder about the Air Corps I'm not surprised yesterday's story was ignored.

First call out:
http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-and-air...75197-Jun2012/

I would like to congratulate the Defence Forces for helping this person. A response time of 13 minutes to Roscommon, with an 11 minute hop to Galway hospital is good, potentially life saving, going. Even the folk on here will struggle to pull criticisms out of their arses.

[Tenger]

Originally Posted by BEASTERLY

......I would like to congratulate the Defence Forces for helping this person. A response time of 13 minutes to Roscommon, with an 11 minute hop to Galway hospital is good, potentially life saving, going. Even the folk on here will struggle to pull criticisms out of their arses.

very impressive response time.

I have to add that I get the impression that posters were not attacking the DF but rather questioning the implemention of the Heli transfer project. From my reading the most logical arguments were that the new project wasn't enough, not that the DF were doing it wrong.

[xflyer]

No one is criticising the Air Corps. They have a job to do. They do it. As it happens I was in the air the other day when the air ambulance was on the way to a call. I facilitated him and coordinated with ATC to ensure the helicopter passed nearby without having to divert. Someone was in trouble, it was important that nothing intervened in that. I felt really good about my tiny part in that call.

That changes nothing in my opinion that the service is at best a poor compromise. That's not the Air Corps fault. It's the fault of O'Reilly and all the rest of the useless politicians who won't face up the reality that we actually need a real air ambulance service not what we have right now.

[punchdrunk]

my beef is not with the men of the Air Corps.
They do some great work
I know many,many ex-heli's crew and they are for the most part very funny & humble gentlemen
a few I would even call heroes.

I do rather have a beef with how hamstrung they are with inadequate equipment,funding,and to some extent leadership.
I don't believe they have truely learned all the lessons they should have from Tramore or the PC-9 crash and this operation in Athlone worries me deeply.
I'd love to be proven wrong and hopefully in time I am.


safe flying guys

[vulcan57]

Quite agree with the later posts here. The Aer Corps do a Trojan job when it comes to ambulance runs, both here and to the UK and further afield at times, even as far as the States. This a great first step but I still can't believe that it is enough. At present the EC-135 has to cover from Athlone to Donegal and and Kerry, huge distances when time is of the essence. The job the other day was a relatively short "hop" compared to some that they will encounter. I am NOT belittling the job carried out the other day, and an excellent job done and great response times. Maybe after the 12 month trial they might think again about increasing the aircraft numbers and dividing that area in two at least. Once again well done the Aer Corps for the work they are doing at present.