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Selecting a landing zone (LZ)
First, determine if the area is large enough to land a
helicopter safely. The landing surface should be flat and
firm, free of debris that would blow up into the rotor system.
Loose articles such as trash or construction materials must be
secured or removed from the touchdown area prior to the
arrival of the aircraft.
Touchdown area: The touchdown area
should be a minimum of 100 ft. X 100 ft. (125 ft. X 125 ft
optimal) area during the day and a minimum of 125 ft. X 125
ft. (150 ft. X 150 ft. optimal) at night. There should also be
a non-emergency personnel clearance of 300 ft. from the edge
of the landing zone.
The landing site should be clear of vehicles and
obstructions such as trees, poles, and wires. Keep in mind
that wires cannot be seen from the air. The landing site must
be free of stumps, brush, posts, and large rocks.
Wind Direction and Touchdown Area
Consider the wind direction, when possible. Helicopters land
and take of into the wind. In certain cases, a 90-degree cross
wind is acceptable. At least one approach and departure path,
free of obstructions (wires, poles, antennas, trees), must be
available. If there are any obstructions, please tell the
helicopter crew on initial radio contact. Obstructions at the
edge of LZs in line with Approach/Departure paths should be no
higher than 4 feet.
Mark the touchdown area with vehicle lights (with lights on
LOWBEAM) positioned at 45 degree angles to the landing
area on the upwind side (see diagram). Obstructions, or
obstacles, such as power lines adjacent to LZ should be marked
and the helicopter crew advised.
It is preferable, but not mandatory, that the landing zone
be set-up on a flat surface such as a paved roadway or parking
area free of overhead obstructions. We are not able to land on
a slope of >6 degrees.
Landing areas
should not
be marked with material that would blow away in the rotor
wash. Material such as police/fire barrier tape or paper
products is not acceptable.
Personnel Safety and Night Landing
Keep spectators at least 300 feet from the touchdown area.
Keep emergency personnel at least 100 feet away.
Have fire equipment (if available) standing by. Assure that
everyone who will be working near the helicopter wears eye
protection. If helmets are worn, chin straps must be securely
fastened (no loose hats blowing up through the rotors). Have
firefighters wet down the touchdown area if it is extremely
dusty. When the helicopter has landed, do not allow anyone to
approach the aircraft. The flight crew will have radio
communication with the ground personnel securing the LZ.
At night, assure that spotlights, floodlights and
handlights used to define the area are not pointed toward the
helicopter. Turn off non-essential lights. White lights, such
as spotlights, flash bulbs, and hi-beam headlights ruin the
pilot's night vision and temporarily blind him. Red lights,
however are very helpful in finding accident locations and do
not affect the pilot's night vision.
Ground Guide
When you see the helicopter, one person should help guide the
aircraft to a safe landing. That person must wear eye
protection. He should stand with his
back to the wind
and with his arms raised over his head to indicate the landing
direction.
Assisting the Crew
Once the helicopter has landed,
do not
approach. The crew will approach you when it is safe to do so.
Once the patient is packaged and ready to load, allow the
crew to select two or three personnel to assist loading. When
approaching or departing the helicopter always do so via the
front of the aircraft, remaining in the pilots view at all
times. Always be aware of the
tail rotor
and follow the crew's directions for your safety.
After Sky Care Leaves the Scene
Once Sky Care has lifted off from the scene ground personnel
should maintain the landing zone until the helicopter is out
of sight. This will help to insure that we have a safe landing
area if for any reason we would need to return to the scene,
make an emergency landing immediately after takeoff, or
experience trouble with our lift-off procedure.
Landing Zone
Important Safety
Information:
Approaching The
Helicopter
Only approach when signaled to do so by a flight crew
member.
Always
approach
and depart the helicopter from the front.
Never hold anything above your head.
Never
approach from the rear.
Never
go
behind the rear elevators on the tail of the aircraft.
Loading and Unloading
Flight Crew will load and unload all equipment.
Loading and unloading of the patient(s) will be
directed by a flight crew member.
Landing Zone Safety
Two-way communication is required. Please advise us
which radio frequency you would like us to utilize. We
need both transmit and receive frequencies as well as PL
codes. Communication via a vehicle mounted radio is
preferable to utilizing a handheld radio. If you have
trouble making contact with us when using a handheld
radio, attempt a vehicle mounted radio that has a higher
output.
Sky Care has many frequencies pre-programmed into our
radio. Our communications center can relay frequencies
that we have available to utilize in your area when you
request Sky Care.
Appoint one person to run the Landing Zone and maintain
communication at all times.
100' X 100' (minimum) Landing Zone, clear of wires,
trees, vehicles and debris. (125' X 125' minimum at
night.)
Surface should be flat and smooth with less than a
6-degree slope. It is preferable for us to land on a
roadway or paved surface.
Crowds must be kept at least 300' from the edge of the
landing zone.
Protect your eyes, wear safety goggles.
Do not shine bright lights at the helicopter.
General Helicopter Safety Rules
When walking
around the helicopter, never approach from the rear, even if
the aircraft is not running. Always approach the aircraft from
the front so you can see the pilot, and he can see you.
When approaching the helicopter, remember to keep low to
avoid the main rotor, because winds can cause the rotor on the
aircraft to flex down.
If the helicopter is landed on or near a slope, approach
and depart from the downside only.
When the helicopter is loaded and ready for take off, keep
the landing zone and departure path free of vehicles and
spectators until Sky Care is out of sight. If an emergency
were to occur, we would need this area to execute our landing.
Rotors Can Kill
The helicopter is
normally very safe but must be approached with caution. Those
areas which present a hazard should be avoided at all times.
Never approach the helicopter during start up and shut down
procedures. This is the most dangerous time, as the rotors are
not at full RPM and will flex downward more easily.
Hazardous Materials
Accidents
involving hazardous materials require special handling by
Fire/Rescue units on the ground. Just as important are the
preparations for helicopter operations in these areas.
Those hazardous materials of concern are those which are
toxic, poisonous, flammable, explosive, irritating or
radioactive in nature. Helicopter ambulance crews normally do
not carry protective suits or breathing apparatus to protect
them from hazardous materials.
The helicopter ambulance crew must be told of
hazardous materials on scene, in order to avoid contamination
of the crew. Patients/victims contaminated by the hazardous
materials may require special precautions in packaging before
loading for the medical crew's protection.
Hazardous Chemicals/Gases
Hazardous
chemicals and gases are extremely dangerous to the unprotected
person and may be fatal if inhaled or absorbed through the
skin.
Upon initial radio contact, the helicopter crew must be
made aware of any hazardous gases in the area. Never assume
that the crew has already been informed. If the aircraft
were to fly through the hazardous gases, the crew could be
poisoned and/or the engine could develop mechanical problems.
Poisonous or irritating gases may cling to a victim's
clothing and go unnoticed until the patient is loaded and the
doors of the helicopter are closed; the crew is then
compromised.
Hazardous Material Landing Zones
Helicopter landing
zones must be selected to avoid all possibility of
compromising the safety of the helicopter and its crew.
When explosives, poisonous gases/vapors, or chemicals in
danger of exploding and burning are on site, helicopter
landing zones must be prepared upwind, at least one mile
from any hazardous material accident site and never in
low-lying areas. The toxic gases and vapors may be heavier
than air and gather in these low-lying area.
For hazardous material accidents involving radioactive
materials, the helicopter landing zone must be prepped
upwind, at least one quarter mile from the accident,
unless there are radioactive gases (steam or smoke),
and in that case the landing zone must be at least one mile
upwind of the accident site.
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