Upgrading your heliport

Abstract

During the past three years, there has been much discussion and action concerning the upgrading of aeromedical helicopters. The availability of new twins, more powerful singles, new avionics equipment and new litter configurations have given our rapidly growing industry much to consider. But heliports have remained basically the same. Or have they? During my first exposure to the hospital-based helicopter industry in 1979, very few, if any hospital heliports, had on-site refueling capabilities. Heliport lighting was heliport lighting nothing to change here. And IFR approaches to hospitals were out of the questions. Size? One hospital, one helicopter that's all there is to it. It soon became apparent, however, that the average aeromedical program was paying in excess of $30,000 annually in terms of rotor time and premium fuel rates to refuel at the local airport following the completion of each aeromedical flight. Innovations began to appear in heliport lighting and approach aids. And a number of hospitals found that they were missing too many missions because their single helicopter was always out 'on other flights.