NZFF

stuff.co.nz | EMILY WATT - The Dominion Post wrote:Recue helicopter operators are fighting an industry crackdown that will ban them flying some patients directly to major hospitals.

The operators have warned the move could potentially cost the health service millions of dollars, put added strain on already struggling ambulance services and delay treatment for patients.

Single-engined aircraft which covers most of the rescue helicopters landing in Wellington are already officially banned from landing in built-up areas unless it is a life or death emergency.

But the Civil Aviation Authority says some operators have been flouting the life or death clause, potentially endangering people living near hospitals. It has held a meeting with rescue helicopter operators, who have been asked to come up with proof they are operating within the law.

In Wellington, operators from Palmerston North, Hastings, New Plymouth and Nelson would be unable to land on the hospital's rooftop pad, with Wellington-based Westpac rescue helicopter the only service that flies a twin-engine craft in the area. Wellington Hospital gets between 50 and 80 flights a week. While at least half are emergency flights, it is believed a large proportion of the rest are routine transfers.

Operators have labelled the move "ridiculous" and say single-engine helicopters are safe. "We wouldn't use the helicopter or the aircraft if it wasn't safe, full stop," said Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust pilot Tim Douglas-Clifford. "It doesn't make much difference to the operator but it makes a big difference to the patient."

It would mean more work for ambulance services, which would be used to pick up patients from airports or approved landing spots. The alternative upgrading to twin-engine craft, which can land in congested areas would cost about $2 million for each helicopter. That pricetag would have to be picked up by the health system and donations.

Civil Aviation rules state single-engine helicopters cannot land in a built-up area in case the engine fails and they injure people on the ground. Any life-threatening case is exempt from the rule.

Helilink chief pilot Alan Deal said the industry had to work with the CAA to solve the problem. "It will have a huge effect on the industry, there's no doubt about that. It will mean that we have to find places to land, like airfields for instance, and that will create a huge ambulance logistics problem."

CAA's rotary wing unit manager, John Fogden, said operators had been using the life-threatening clause when they should not be to land at hospitals.

The CAA called a meeting at Wellington Hospital before Christmas to inform local operators they would need to prove they were following the rules.

Newtown Residents Association vice-president Martin Hanley said noise from helicopters landing at the hospital had been discussed by the association, but it was more important the service continued to help people.

"We'd like them to operate safely because we're underneath them, but we'd also like them to continue saving lives."

Westpac rescue helicopter spokesman Dave Greenberg said he thought CAA had been very reasonable.

"If CAA did nothing and turned a blind eye and then a helicopter crashes near the hospital the first thing anyone would be doing is saying to CAA `why didn't you enforce the rules?'," he said.