Helicopter Medivac Landing Zone & Communication Procedures

Danger Zone Around Helicopter

• The figure (referenced in the lecture) highlights a “danger zone” encircling the aircraft that must remain clear during approach, landing, patient transfer, and take-off.
  • Rotor wash, debris scatter, and rotor‐blade arc make this area hazardous.
  • Personnel, bystanders, and unsecured equipment should never enter unless explicitly directed by the flight crew.

Medivac Request – Communication Chain

• 1. Dispatcher / Emergency Communication Center (ECC)
  • First and mandatory point of contact when a medivac is needed.
  • Relay essential data:
  • Patient condition (e.g., injuries, vitals, special needs).
  • Exact location (GPS coordinates, cross streets, landmarks).
  • Environmental factors (weather, obstacles, night/day).
• 2. EMS ➜ Flight Crew (direct radio link – region-dependent)
  • Some systems authorize EMS crews to speak directly with the helicopter’s pilot or medical team after dispatcher activation.
  • Purpose:
  • Provide real-time clinical updates to help tailor in-flight care.
  • Coordinate landing zone (LZ) selection, confirm approach direction, and discuss hazards.

Landing Zone (LZ) – Core Principles

• Safety and effectiveness guide every LZ decision.
• Landing Approach
  • Ideal profile mimics fixed-wing aircraft: a shallow, angled descent rather than a vertical drop.
  • Benefits: improved visibility, reduced turbulence, smoother touchdown.

Responsibility for LZ Setup

• Ground EMS crew (or designated rescue personnel) are responsible for:
  • Selecting, preparing, and securing the site before aircraft arrival.
  • Maintaining communication with the flight crew.

Site Criteria (Size, Surface, Hazards)

• Optimal dimensions: $100\text{ ft} \times 100\text{ ft}$ (square, level ground).
• Minimum acceptable: $60\text{ ft} \times 60\text{ ft}$ when space is restricted.
• Surface must be:
  • Level – avoids rotor strike or rollover risk.
  • Firm & stable – no mud, soft sand, or snowdrifts.
  • Free of loose debris – small rocks, branches, trash can become high-velocity projectiles.
• Overhead/vertical clearance:
  • Remove or avoid utility lines, antennas, turbines, tall trees, poles.

Marking the Landing Zone

• Weighted traffic cones or emergency vehicles placed at the four corners.
  • Headlights toward the center form an illuminated “X.”
• Night operations: add strobes or chem-lights if available; avoid white light shining upward that can blind pilots.
• Keep the perimeter delineated but uncluttered—no flares in dry grass, no loose tarps, etc.

Pre-Landing Radio Report to Pilot

• Confirm verbally that:
  • “The area is cleared of debris and all nonessential persons.”
  • Provide wind direction & strength (e.g., “winds out of the west at 12 knots”).
  • Note any new hazards (smoke, blowing dust, wires discovered late, etc.).
• Once aircraft lands:
  • Approach only when signaled by crew.
  • Always walk in the pilot’s field of vision, staying crouched, avoiding the tail rotor.

Practical / Ethical Implications

• Proper communication prevents delays that can critically affect patient outcome.
• Rigorous LZ preparation protects not just the patient and crew but also ground rescuers and bystanders.
• Following protocol demonstrates professionalism, reduces liability, and supports inter-agency trust.