RE: landing safety of BK117

["Tom Waters" <tom@tomwaters.net>]

In our BK program, we have the option of opening the sliding door, under 300
feet/60 knots.  There is a pre-opening verbal checklist, assuring A] ICS to
key (off vox) B] Crew secured C] equipment near door secured, specifically
the hand-held spotlight.  Then the door may be opened, at the option of the
rear crewmember.  The front-seater (medic or RN, we switch off) will alert
pilot of Caution lamp, and assist in clearing it, etc.
We always have 1 up front, 1 in back on the dead-head leg.  Dependent upon
the specific pilot, the front seater may just be another set of eyes, or
more typically, run the EMS radio, program the GPS, assist with checklists,
read-off the emergency checklist for in-flight events, etc.  I have a few
times now flown up front when we have a 3rd-rider orienting (new flight crew
member) and we are going into a larger airport, or over long distance, and
done the map-reading/course work for the pilot.  In Inadvertant IMC, the
front-seater's immediate job is to find the appropriate approach plate and
assist the pilot in plotting a new course.
Once on the ground, the front-seater typically will assume tail-rotor guard
until relieved by responders from the scene, although sometimes this cannot
be delegated off.  The rear-seater will go directly to the patient.  But
again, we are equal team-mates, so we switch duties occasionally.
Something else, while the chin-bubble is a tempting area to store equipment
such as a soft-sided bag containing MAST pants or what-have-u, I can tell
you from experience that you should never store anything there which blocks
your view out of that window.  I called an abort due to a tree only I saw,
thru only the chin bubble one night.  Had the MAST been there, we might have
had a worse evening. (it had recently been relocated to the back)
Hope this is useful info.

Tom Waters, FP-C
Scott & White STAT Air
STAT 2 Base Coordinator-Georgetown, TX

-----Original Message-----
From: flightmed-bounces@flightweb.com
[mailto:flightmed-bounces@flightweb.com] On Behalf Of flyinbrian
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2003 14:34
To: Flightmed
Subject: Re: landing safety of BK117


Loyd, 
We fly 2 BK-117's. If the pilot requests that someone open the sliding door
and get a better visual during a landing we will do so, however we remain
secured in the aircraft with the seat harness at all times. During our
out-bound leg of the fight one crewmember typically will sit in the co-pilot
seat and one will sit in the patient compartment. We have one in the
co-pilot seat for an added set of eyes to look for other air traffic and
obstacles. We also have both aircraft equipped with a Night Sun search light
to use during night landing zones. Hope this helps. 
 
Brian J. Burrell RN,NREMT-P
Program Manager
Tulsa Life Flight 
 


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