Re: EC-135 vs BK-117

[Michael Cox <michael@seaox.com>]

Mike,

We transitioned from a 117 to the 135  when they first came
out.  In my opinion there are a number of advantages and
disadvantages

Advantages:

        

Pilots
love to fly them

        

Upgraded
electronics

        

Quieter
(Less noise complaints)

        

Faster
(depending on which turbine you had in your BK)

Disadvantages

        

MUCH
smaller crew compartment to work in with corresponding less storage
space.

        

Patient
access limited below the waist - similar as the BO but not quite as
bad.

        

Lower
ceilings

        

Restricted
hot off-loads - the turbine exhaust is at head level for most crew
members

        

You're in
a bad ergonomic position when loading patients into the A/C - you really
have to

     

        

use
good body mechanics

Overall the A/C is pretty nice.  I have heard the 145 combines the
electronics and flyability of the 135 with the crew compartment of the
117 but I have never actually been inside of one.

If you do get the 135 I would STRONGLY suggest you have actual flight
crew members get together and try to lay out the medical crew compartment
design based on a consensus of what works best.  This will save you
a lot of head-aches and "work-arounds" after you get it. 
Of course there may be some restrictions you cannot change. 

On the Cisco and Ebert rating scale I give the 135 a thumb up and a thumb
down.

Again, just my opinion and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of
management.

Michael
Florida Flight 1



At 10:56 AM 08/30/2002 -0400, you wrote:
> Hello,
> our flight program is in the process of upgrading aircraft and we have
> the option of selecting between the EC-135 and a BK-117. I am soliciting
> input from flight crews who have changed from  the BK to the EC-135,
> ie. did you feel that you lost too much tunnel space, etc. Also if you
> currently fly in the 135, does this a/c have an ext. baggage compartment,
> the specs list one, but I'm not sure if the metro medical interior has
> one.  Thanks for your help and let's keep the ratio of takeoff's and
> landing =.    Mike Wood RN/CP 
>       Baptist Life Flight 
>       Pensacola, Fl.