PHI Air Medical Takes to The Sky, Always Prepared and Always Alert

“Dispatch Air Medical.” After hearing those three words, a crew of highly talented pilots and medical personnel are up in a Bell 407 in minutes. With over 65 bases all over the United States, PHI Air Medical utilizes a skilled team to transport over 30,000 patients a year. In Texas, they are known for their company standard of always carrying liquid plasma and warm red blood cells on every aircraft for transfusions.

Today, PHI Air Medical operates a fleet of Bell 407s, which have always been a choice aircraft for healthcare emergency services. A 61 in/155 cm bi-fold door allows for efficient patient loading especially when it’s vital. The third seat in the aircraft allows a patient family member, field surgeon or additional medical personnel to fly with the crew. The aircraft is also known for its reliability and performance especially in hot conditions, which it has proven with continuous successful operations in these type of environments, including during Texas summers where temperatures can reach more than 110 degrees. With reoccurring summertime injuries, such as drowning and dehydration, PHI personnel feel very confident in the aircraft and its ability to help them deliver patients to nearby medical facilities and hospitals. 

Established in 1981, PHI Air Medical has built a robust legacy of aviation safety - and they have the facts to prove it. PHI flies more flight hours than any other civilian company in the world. Their current safety record is 0.78 occurrences for 100,000 flight hours versus an industry average of 4.78 occurrences for 100,000 flight hours. The healthcare emergency medical service provider also achieved an industry first by becoming the first company to receive the Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award in 2007 and the only air medical company to win it a second time in 2016. To add further safety measures to flights, the crew operates in flight with night vision goggles, satellite tracking, terrain awareness, auto-pilot, terrain awareness and line monitoring.

PHI’s Bell 407 crew consists of two medical personnel - one flight nurse and one paramedic - and a pilot. From treating a rural agriculture accident to transporting high-risk maternity patients, medical personnel are required to have extensive medical knowledge to handle any injury and condition the North Texas community throws their way. In addition, PHI crews follow strict standardized and engineered airway guidelines to ensure patient safety and outcomes. PHI’s pilots can land in fields as well as on the sides of highways, dirt or concrete surfaces and hospital helipads. Every team member knows their role well and operates with patient and aircraft safety at the top of their mind.

AIR METHODS USES TRACKER III FOR FLIGHT DATA MANAGEMENT (FDM) AND FLIGHT OPERATIONS QUALITY ASSURANCE (FOQA) PROGRAMS

Air Methods is the world's largest air medical services provider, and may be dispatched to transport a patient between hospitals, roadside accident or any extreme example in between. They must be ready to provide the Level I trauma support the patient requires during this critical phase known as the ‘golden hour’, so tracking and monitoring this fleet is paramount to response and safety.

“As more hospitals are consolidated into networks, a lot of the rural services are being shut down, so by having our Level 1 air medical services, they can get to a trauma center and survive,” said Air Methods VP of Flight Operations, Teri Short.

In 2018, a new FAA rule takes effect, requiring larger-fleet Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) operators to have Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) capabilities, including the aircraft’s heading, altitude, flight path, engine parameters, flight controls, and system performance.

“If an aircraft is on the ground, and it can't take the mission, then both of us lose, and our mission doesn't happen. We look for partners who understand aviation, and understand the criticality of keeping aircraft in service, and Honeywell is known for that,” Teri said.

"We chose to partner with Honeywell because we like partners that are solid, excellent providers, and that we know they're going to be there in the future with us.”

The Tracker III, and the Tracker III Advance, allows us to tap into the aircraft systems through the electrical data buses, and pick up everything the aircraft is doing. If the information is available, such as engine parameters, oil, temp, and torque - everything on the aircraft that is running across those data buses can be brought into the Tracker III system, recorded, and plotted. We can determine which of those parameters we want to watch or monitor, and see if the aircraft is behaving like we expect it to, 100% of the time, at all times.”

The on-board crew is also able to communicate medical status, so if there is a sudden change in the critical care needs of the patient, the information can be relayed through the Sky Connect Tracker III system to the medical personnel on the ground via their operations center.

Archie Gray, SVP Flight Operations, Air Methods, states “Honeywell took it a step further by partnering with Masco; they are a distributor for the Tracker III, and the company was built upon customer service and support. They figure out a way to make it happen.”

Masco is celebrating their 50 year anniversary this year, and for every one of those years, has remained passionate about customer service and keeping customers flying through “good quality work, at a good fair price”. Archie agrees.

“I've been in this industry going on 43 years. I've worked with Honeywell for 43 years and I've worked with Masco for 43 years and they've never let me down. It's a great relationship.” 

Coast Guard rescues man after search off Emerald Isle, NC

MH-60 Jayhawk, ©U.S. Coast Guard

WILMINGTON, N.C. — The Coast Guard rescued a man Saturday after a search that began Friday when two men aboard a recreational fishing boat were reported overdue near Emerald Isle.

Watchstanders in the Coast Guard Sector North Carolina Command Center in Wilmington received notification at about 7:45 p.m. Friday that a 23-foot center console with two people aboard were expected to arrive at Bogue Inlet by 5:30 p.m., but had not returned from their voyage.

The Coast Guard immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert mariners in the area. The Coast Guard sent a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium crew from Station Emerald Isle, and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Fort Macon, along with an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew and C-130 Hercules aircraft crew from Air Station Elizabeth City to search.

The Station Emerald Isle crew located a capsized vessel matching the description of the overdue boat just outside of Bogue Inlet.

One of the overdue boaters was wearing a life jacket and was able to swim to shore. An Emerald Isle Fire Dept. crew located the man who was displaying signs of hypothermia, and placed him in the care of EMS.

The Coast Guard received a call from a person walking the shoreline near Bogue Inlet at about 4:40 a.m., reporting cries for help. A 24-foot Special Purpose Craft-Shallow Water crew from Station Emerald Isle arrived on scene and found the missing man clinging to the hard-top canopy from the overturned boat near Buoy 10 inside Bogue Inlet.

The man was taken to shore and placed in the care of awaiting EMS after displaying signs of hypothermia.

"The fact that these boaters told someone they were going out and planned to be back at a certain time is what saved this man's life today," said Chief Petty Officer Ryan Alexander, command duty officer for Sector North Carolina. "Wearing a life jacket exponentially increases the chances of survival in situations like this."

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Coast Guard assists, partner agency medevacs 83-year-old man 6 miles west of Anclote River

U.S. Coast Guard District 7

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew arrives to assist an 83-year-old man  suffering from symptoms of shock, Thursday, May 3, 2018 aboard a fishing boat 6 miles west of the Anclote River, Florida. Marine unit crewmembers from Pinellas County Sheriff's Office also responded embarked the man and medevaced him to Anclote Park Boat Ramp, Florida, for further care and transfer to EMS. 

ANCLOTE, Fla. -- The Coast Guard assisted an 83-year-old man Thursday from a passenger boat 6 miles west of the Anclote River.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg command center received a call via VHF-FM marine band radio channel 16 at 12:53 p.m. from a crewmember aboard the Sundance II stating they had a passenger aboard suffering from symptoms of shock.

Watchstanders launched a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boatcrew from Coast Guard Station Sand Key and a MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater to assist. 

Two marine units from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office also responded after hearing the radio communication between the Coast Guard and the Sundance II. The Jayhawk aircrew arrived approximately 1:48 p.m. and lowered a rescue swimmer who reported the patient became responsive and ambulatory. 

Based on the rescue swimmer's evaluation, PCSO marine unit crewmembers embarked the man and medevaced him to Anclote Park Boat Ramp for further care, and transfer to EMS.

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Asia Pacific’s HEMS, VIP and military markets present opportunities for the H145

Asia Pacific is an active region for the rotorcraft industry, where both the civil and military markets are showing potential for 2018. Among the helicopters generating the greatest interest, the H145 is already at the centre of talks with HEMS, VIP and military operators.

The Asia Pacific region extends from India to New Zealand, covering an area of 16,000 km and comprising the Pacific’s smallest islands to the entire continent of Australia. The region represents 30 percent of the global civil and parapublic helicopter fleet and 25 percent of the global military helicopter fleet. Of the 4,000 helicopters in operation in the civil and parapublic market, Airbus leads Asia Pacific with 40 percent market share, and represents close to 10 percent of the 5,000 military helicopters in operation.

Both of these markets expect to experience steady growth over the next decades. “We believe that the overall market growth in Asia Pacific will be at least 4 percent per year over the next 20 years,” says Fabrice Rochereau, Vice President and Head of Sales for Airbus Helicopters Southeast Asia Pacific.

Multiple avenues for the H145 in the civil market

Among the region’s civil markets expected to see growth, the VIP segment, tourism, and helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are currently showing the most promise.

For Rochereau, the H145 is the helicopter to fit the bill for these three markets. “The H145 is a great performer. It can land anywhere, even in small spaces,” he says. “And its low sound signature makes it a popular choice for operations in Asia’s largest cities.” Currently, 213 H145s are in service in Asia Pacific, with 127 operators.

Rochereau expects the H145 to be a part of Airbus’ future VIP sales in the region thanks to its compact footprint and low sound levels – two qualities valued by private customers. On the other end of the spectrum, the region’s tourism market is witnessing a transformation to a middle-class demographic with the means and desire to book sightseeing flights. For excursions over water or into mountain ranges, the twin-engine H145’s manoevrability makes for exciting photo ops, all with the added performance it brings in high and hot conditions. Moreover, it is one of a handful of helicopters that meets sound restrictions for flights above the American Grand Canyon.

One of the H145’s largest civil markets for growth in Asia Pacific is HEMS. Well-developed in Australia and Thailand, HEMS is actively developing in other countries of the region. “The H135 and H145 are the world’s best-sellers for HEMS operations,” says Rochereau. “We have two H135s in operation in Malaysia, two H145s in Thailand, as well as 14 H135s and one H145/BK117 D-2 in Japan.” In 2017, Bangkok Helicopter Services became the first Asia Pacific operator to receive an EMS-configured H145.  In the same year, Japan’s Hiratagakuen became that country’s first owner of the H145/BK117 D-2 helicopter, to be deployed for EMS missions in the Nagasaki prefecture.

The numbers attest to the H145’s popularity. In 2017 alone, 76 H145s were ordered by customers globally.

Multi-purpose for the military

On the military side, the region’s defence budgets have traditionally been modest, but are growing. Many countries are seeking to supplement their militaries, while others must consider their fleet replacement requirements. In Thailand, five H145Ms and six H145s are already in use with the country’s navy and army, respectively.

Equipped with HForce, Airbus’ modular weapon system, the H145M offers a system as efficient as that of a combat helicopter such as a Tiger, but at a lower cost. “In Asia Pacific you have countries interested in having this kind of multi-role or armed scout helicopter,” says Rochereau. “The H145M is much more, because we offer a helicopter capable of using weapons but also of transporting forces, performing search and rescue, and carrying out military missions like casevac [casualty evacuation].”

In each country of the region, “there is interest or we are in an active campaign for the H145M,” says Rochereau.

Nakanihon Air Service: Japanese Aviation Company Meeting All Your Aerial Needs

BELL 429

Operating from Nagoya Airport for 65 years, Nakanihon Air Service (NAS) provides a very broad scope of aviation services ranging from charter flights to goods transportation, medevac, aerial survey and photography. In addition, NAS can provide solutions for all your aerial needs, such as aircraft repair and maintenance including the helicopters manufactured by Bell.

NAS recently purchased two Bell 429s for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), where they will transport doctors and nurses to emergency sites quickly with various medical equipment. Bell 429 is a popular choice for HEMS because of its spacious cabin that accommodates two medical litters. The head of NAS pilot training department, Yoshiaki Ogino, agrees that Bell 429 is the perfect choice for their missions. “Some of my colleagues said, ‘Bell 429 realizes very smooth flight and passengers feel almost no vibration,’ and ‘It is much more comfortable compared with the other Bell helicopters we have had,’” said Ogino. “Comments from pilots are quite important because they have a lot of experience with helicopter operation.”

One of the Bell 429’s biggest assets are the low vibrations during flight, allowing for passengers to experience extremely smooth ride. Ogino says that the comfortable ride will enable doctors and nurses to focus more on their work without worrying about the unsteadiness of the aircraft. The smooth ride also eliminates any chances of passengers getting ill from unsettling movements.