Blackcombin figures Geoff Doran, Chief Pilot at Blackcomb Helicopters, and James Houser, President and CEO of the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, including STAT Medevac, tell Rotor about their experience with their HEMS H135s. North America “A modern, incredible machine” STAT Medevacin figures AIR AMBULANCE read more read more read more AIR AMBULANCE The H135 is the market leader in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), and is available in a wide range of dedicated EMS interiors that provide operators with a choice of configurations, providing ample room for patient care. Its cabin volume allows for direct access to the patient in the event of emergencies, such as the need to administer cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. Furthermore, the aircraft and its EMS cabin layouts meet the highest standards in patient care, like those required by the European EN13718. The H135 has up to a 99% availability rate in the EMS segment, with the lowest operating cost in this segment (1.08 MMH/FH). It is especially well adapted to fly in confined and urban environments thanks to its low sound level and CO2 emissions, as well as its compact size. “The most memorable moment I had with the H135 was when we picked it up in Fort Erie at Airbus’ facilities and flew it to the west coast,” says Geoff Doran, Chief Pilot at Blackcomb Helicopters, who specialises in mountain rescues in British Columbia. “We flew through all of Canada’s geographical areas, from Ontario across the Great Plains, over the Rocky and Coastal Mountains, to British Columbia. Being able to fly that modern, incredible machine across the country was a privilege.” Doran’s words are echoed by James Houser, President and CEO of the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, whose emergency air transport arm is STAT Medevac. “I vividly recall my early days in critical care transport,” he says. “From the 13th floor of UPMC Presbyterian we had a wonderful view of the helipad. Being new, I didn’t know what I was looking at but I knew that the H135 aircraft were different. There was something appealing about their look and styling. You just knew that they were modern.” Caring for patients STAT Medevac’s fleet of Airbus helicopters has grown since the company began operating the H135 in 1996, and remains a key element in their strategy of a standardised fleet. Having a familiar cockpit and cabin configuration no matter the individual aircraft provides an extra margin of safety and comfort for pilots and medical crews. “If I had to describe the H135 in one word, it’s ‘workhorse’,” says Houser. “When I look back at our time operating the H135 and see where it is today in the air medical transport industry, it is the go-to aircraft for what we do, caring for patients and transporting the critically ill and injured.” In Blackcomb’s case, the H135’s precision is a crucial aspect for rescuing people, be it “at high elevations in the Coastal Mountains or picking people up off vertical rock faces or out of deep canyons; the H135 is stable underneath us,” says Doran. “Whether we’re doing rescues or putting people onto power lines and need to move the aircraft to get somebody at the bottom of a 150-foot long line to move a small distance—the H135 is there. Our hoist operator was the first to come up with the term: it’s a surgical instrument.” “A modern, incredible machine” STAT Medevac (air transport system for Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania) • H135 fleet: 20 H135s (+ 5 H145s) • Area of operations: Pennsylvania (US) and surrounding states • Activity: critical care transport • H135 operator since: 1996 “If I had to describe the H135 in one word, it’s ‘workhorse’.” James Houser, President and CEO of the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania Blackcomb Helicopters • H135 fleet: one H135 • Area of operations: British Columbia & Alberta (Canada), the US Pacific Northwest • Activity: mountain rescue, power line maintenance, construction, VIP transportation • H135 operator since: 2014 “Our hoist operator was the first to come up with the term: the H135 is a surgical instrument.” Geoff Doran,Chief Pilot at Blackcomb Helicopters