Re: Physician-Staffed Helicopters

["Bruce Bowling" <caduceus@mis.net>]

> I would like to get a bit of input from the group is regarding the  Pros &
> Cons to the EC-135. Is anyone on the list currently flying one, and if so
> what can you share with us so far?

Flew in the EC 135 for 2 years after seven years in a BK.  A few
observations.

I loved the EC! Finally, there was an aircraft that gave me plenty of
patient access, without me unbuckling and having to move around the patient
compartment to care for the patient.  Our aircraft had the Metro interior.
We removed the fold down forward facing jumpseat (very uncomfortable), and
extended the tracks of the swiveling rear facing seat behind the pilot.
This allowed us to sit either behind the pilot, or alongside the patient in
rear or forward facing position. This worked out great for us. Also, as a
crew member @ 6'3", I could sit upright even when wearing a helmet.

The aircraft had an almost vibration free medical cabin. This was very much
appreciated by both the crew and the patients.

One complaint I have heard voiced is the lowered ceiling height from the
waist down on the patient. If need be, I could still bend over and access
the entire patient's body, just not as comfortably as in the BK.  Besides,
how many times do you need to access the patient from the waist down
in-flight?

The visibility was great in both the rear and the cockpit.  The radio and
GPS was laid out in a manner that allowed the medical crew member riding in
front to program both. This took a great workload off our pilots during
scene operations. In my opinion, it is always preferable to have the pilot
looking where you are going, instead of at the radios/GPS while programming
them.

Our aircraft had an integrated moving map display and weather radar. Great
for both skirting popup weather, and knowing exactly where you were at when
flying down a road.  Really tough to read those road signs at altitude.

The EC was fast and quiet.  Believe it or not, I could easily auscultate
breath sounds (albeit with a good stethoscope) whenever the need arose.
Never could quite manage that trick in a BK.

Now, for the downsides.  We went into this aircraft with Eurocopter's
promise that the autopilot would be available within a year, so we could
operate IFR. To the best of my knowledge, this still has not happened 4
years later.  I do understand that Metro has their own autopilot now
certified and available.

The arrus mounts for the transmission, which allows for almost
vibration-free operation, were total KLUDGE!  We replaced countless mounts,
and still had failures every few months.  When these mounts fail, the
aircraft feels very much like a BK.

We had many small to medium electrical problems. Several times, had
electrical components fail in flight, necessitating emergency or
precautionary landings.

Our aircraft was configured with the FW model 28 wheeled stretcher. Although
I never had any problems, some of my fellow crew members complained that the
lowered tail boom height made it difficult to load.

All in all, I still think it is a great aircraft, and am sorry that we no
longer operate this aircraft at my program.

Bruce Bowling
CareFlight
Lexington, KY

Remember:  All opinions expressed above are mine and mine only, and do not
reflect the views of my program and it's administration.


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