Helicopter Operations

Helicopters are particularly suited to physical rescue of persons stranded, in inaccessible locations, whether injured or not.  Depending on the location of the victim, a helicopter may be useful in removing the victim or placing rescue personnel in a position to reach the victim.

Technical Rescue Team personnel, along with proper helicopter agency, should be considered for access to particularly difficult locations.  The risk of using helicopters and placing rescue personnel in dangerous situations must be weighed against the urgency of the rescue situation.  These considerations may be critical during hours of darkness or poor flying weather.

“Special use” of helicopters are activities that require pilots and rescuers to use certified technical rescue skills to affect the rescue of a patient or patients that are in critical condition or life threatening situations.  These are high risk operations that can pose a serious threat to the life safety of both patients and rescuers.

The following are considered “Special Use” helicopter operations.

1.  External Load ( longlines, rescue ring.)

2.  Hover Sites (low-level hovering for loading and unloading)

3.  Helicopter rappelling (insertions and extractions)

4.  Single Skid Landings

5.  Two Skid under power landings

6.  Any takeoff or landing requiring special pilot technique due to terrain, obstacles or surface condition.