Single Engine HEMS An Operator s Perspective. Presented by Capt Iefan Blake Senior Helicopter Pilot Air Mercy Service

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3 Single Engine HEMS An Operator s Perspective Presented by Capt Iefan Blake Senior Helicopter Pilot Air Mercy Service

4 AMS EXPERIENCE Important, this presentation reflects AMS s experience. It relates directly to a specific set of conditions, namely: The operational mandate given to us by our Provincial Partners - Day Light Only HEMS Aircraft and Equipment - As allowed by the budget CAA Regulations - Govern our industry Some/all of these may be different in your case Insight - How we established a safe, efficient HEMS Share thoughts, comments and experiences

5 CONTENTS AMS HISTORY AMS HEMS HISTORY WHY AMS CHANGED FROM A TWIN TO A SINGLE ENGINE HELICOPTER SINGLE ENGINE HEMS CONCLUSION

6 AMS HISTORY Established 1966 by Red Cross Society, non-profit basis, C205 Primary focus - Transport critically ill & injured patients Remote and under resourced areas In collaboration with Prov. Dept of Health Service integrated into EMS.

7 AMS HISTORY CONTINUED Now we operate a fleet of 15 Aircraft: 7 X PC 12 3 X EC 130 B4 4 X AW119MKII 1 X A109S Providing Flying Doctor, Air Ambulance, Rescue services in Partnership with Prov. EMS

8 AMS HEMS HISTORY Western Cape first to introduce a Helicopter Service back in 2000 with a BO105 Primarily for MVA and IFT

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15 WHY AMS CHANGED FROM A TWIN TO A SINGLE ENGINE HELICOPTER AMS Provincial Partners requested a rescue capability The rescue equipment was prohibitively expensive on the BO105 and excessively heavy. It could only accommodate 3 crew, no place for 4 th crew member. BO105 did not have the engine performance, or payload to allow Rescue Equipment to be fitted and still have the range to be operationally effective, less than 40 min.

16 WHY AMS CHANGED FROM A TWIN TO A SINGLE ENGINE HELICOPTER No other twin was affordable at the time that could meet the performance capabilities required There was no legal requirement for a twin

17 WHY AMS CHANGED FROM A TWIN TO A SINGLE ENGINE HELICOPTER AMS Management came to the conclusion that to improve the safety of the operation, it was essential to provide the aircrew with a suitably equipped and capable helicopter. That the replacement was a single engine helicopter was considered acceptable as it was recognized that by far the largest risk to operations was from Human Factors, and not the single engine.

18 Safety

19 Performance, Capabilities & Cost Safety Legislation Challenges

20 Performance, Capabilities & Cost The acquisition of the single engine Alouette III benefitted the AMS in the following ways: Rescue Equipment Installation Performance capability for rescue missions Crew - Pilot, Hoist Operator, Medic, Tech Rescuer HOGE Sufficient to perform most rescues

21 Performance, Capabilities & Cost However, the Alouette III had the following disadvantages: Slow Cruise Speed Limited Range and Endurance, multiple strategic fuel placement else less than 1.0H and 95NM No certified medical interior for patient transfer to definitive care after rescue Regular maintenance

22 Performance, Capabilities & Cost To improve patient survivability we had to have the capability to transport the patient after rescue. The replacement of the Alouette III in 2004 with the single engine AS350 afforded us this capability and gave us the following benefits: Rescue Equipment Installation Performance capability for rescue missions Crew - Pilot, Hoist Operator, Medic, Tech Rescuer Range and Endurance 200NM, 1.8Hrs HOGE- Sufficient to perform all rescues

23 Performance, Capabilities & Cost Further enhancements offered by the AS350: Patient could be rescued and then loaded in helicopter and flown to definitive care Quicker start up and shut down time for scenes Reduced Fuel Consumption Less down time due to scheduled maintenance, improving availability Cheaper maintenance

24 Performance, Capabilities & Cost In 2008 the acquisition of the EC 130 B4 allowed us to crew the aircraft with 2 pilots, 2 medics and still accommodate a patient. This allowed for: Pilot operation proficiency checks and line training Possibility of starting the Helicopter PDP Program Prepared for possible CAA Regulations allowing night HEMS on single engine helicopters with 2 Pilots Performance capability for HEMS missions Range and Endurance 280NM, 2.6Hrs Typical HOGE Crew + Fuel 5000 Feet, 30C

25 Performance, Capabilities & Cost Further enhancements offered by the B4: Simple Start Procedure - Less chance of exceeding any limitations during start, Controlled by FADEC Dual Hydraulics-Redundancy Exceedence Monitoring-Engine health Fuel Usage Indication, with remaining endurance Increased safety from Fenestron

26 Performance, Capabilities & Cost However, the B4 had the following disadvantages: No Certified Hoist-Thus not able to provide a rescue service Its prohibited to open the crew door during flight, making landing in confine areas more hazardous as your crew aren't able to clear the left hand side of the helicopter or the tail rotor

27 Performance, Capabilities & Cost During 2009, in accordance with AMS policy to keep the helicopter fleet modern, and as the B4 could not perform rescues, the AW119MKII helicopters were acquired. They allowed for 2 pilots and 3 crew plus patient. This allowed for: Pilot operation proficiency checks and line training Introduction of the Helicopter PDP Program Prepared for possible CAA Regulations allowing night HEMS on single engine helicopters with 2 Pilots Performance capability for HEMS and Rescue missions Crew- Pilot, Hoist Operator, Medic, Tech Rescuer Range & Endurance- 330NM and 3.0Hrs Typical HOGE Crew + Fuel 3000feet, 30C

28 Performance, Capabilities & Cost Further enhancements offered by the AW119MKII: Dual Hydraulics Exceedence Monitoring Stability System (Helipilot SAS) Cabin separate from cockpit, lighting and patient interference GNS530, Large Moving Map GPS Radar Alt, TAWS

29 Safety Contrary to popular belief, the major risk areas in single engine HEMS is not the engine. If we look at typical reliability rate for modern single engine helicopters they fall in the range 0.3 to 1.3 core engine failures per flight hours. So if we take the mean at 0.6: then for our operations which flies about 600 hours a year, we could expect a failure in 270 years.

30 Safety So if the risk is not associated with the single engine, then where is the risk We have to look at big brother in the States to get a better idea. They have over 800 helicopters performing HEMS missions day and night, in single and twin engine helicopters. Due to a dramatic increase in number of accidents in recent years the FAA assembled a task force to review these accidents and determine the causes.

31 Safety These were some of their findings which can give us a good indication of where the risk lies in HEMS. Of the 27 HEMS accidents reviewed resulting in fatalities, 21 occurred at night. Significant contributing factors to most of the accidents where CFIT and IIMC.

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33 Safety A NTSB HEMS operations report states Reduced visibility accidents account for 61 percent of all fatal commercial EMS helicopter accidents. Some of the Safety Recommendations applicable to our operation Relevant and Applicable Standard Operating Procedures. Management Oversight IIMC recovery SMS System Flight Following and Tracking

34 Safety How do we as AMS address these risks? We do not operate at night, so this risk is avoided. Standard Operating Procedures with clear Wx Minima 300, 90KIAS turn back or land. Management Oversight Regular Audits, SOP IIMC recovery-pilot Training initial conversion Regular Proficiency Checks 6 months SMS System In place for last 2 years Flight Following and Tracking all Helicopters

35 Safety Modern Fleet: Radar Alt Moving Map GPS Satellite tracking System Engine and Main Rotor Exceedence Monitoring and recording Dual Hydraulics

36 Legislation Challenges NIGHT OPERATIONS Permitted to have a patient on-board from 45 min before sunrise to 45 min after sunset As long as such flight is to an illuminated hospital stop or an aerodrome approved for night operations

37 Legislation Challenges NIGHT OPERATIONS Outside of these times at night, Helicopter and pilot to be certified for instrument flight. Unless you can comply with AIC18.66, 2 Pilot, 2 Gene, 2 Alt, Wx/Storm Scope No single engine civilian helicopters certified for instrument flight in SA. European Regulators are looking into SEIMC IFSD reliability rate for engines 1: flight hours (200yrs)

38 CONCLUSION Single engine HEMS-AMS Experience Effective Efficient Safe Legal