Low flying helicopter 23rd @ 4am

Storm 10

Take off and landings of any aircraft are dependent on wind direction, the helicopters going in and out of UHG will land into the wind and take off into the wind, its not too critical for helicopters but it makes life easier when coming in or going out to have the assistance of the wind be it strong or slack, if you look the next time they are going into UHG just before touch down they turn the helicopter so the exit door is near the ambulance for easiy patient transfer as sometimes this transfer is done with rotors running,then for take off they lift slightly off the pad and turn the helicopter back towards the wind, climb out and depart.

This new service known as Aeromedico as far as I know is going to get busier as the new Coastguard S92 Helicopters are being delivered shortly to Sligo, Dublin and Waterford and they will all be assisting in patient transfer for the HSE as the new one in Shannon is doing, its a regular visitor into UHG as well but the Air Corps AW139 is the one that is there on a daily basis. Its a fantastic service for those critically ill patients that need to get to hospital urgently.

snubbleste

I've never seen it approaching from the north or from the east. Maybe I don't hang around the area enough

fishy fishy

helicopter landings at the hospital seem to be as often as buses over the last few months - they seem to come in at least two or three times a day if not more - there must be an awful lot of casualties around - some of them fly so low the house shakes. At one stage it was so low that my kids ran out of the housing thinking it was going to hit. Exciting for them though. Doesn't really bother us anymore.

snubbleste

Only 2-3 times a day?
I figure it's far more.

Storm 10

snubbleste wrote: »

I've never seen it approaching from the north or from the east. Maybe I don't hang around the area enough

Next time you see one coming in check out the wind direction, actually it was landing from the East yesterday

fishy fishy there must be an awful lot of casualties around

Just thank God that you are not the one needing the helicopter I am sure the patients going in are very grateful for the service.

fishy fishy

snubbleste wrote: »

Only 2-3 times a day?
I figure it's far more.

could be...but some of us have to work.

fishy fishy

Storm 10 wrote: »

Next time you see one coming in check out the wind direction, actually it was landing from the East yesterday



Just thank God that you are not the one needing the helicopter I am sure the patients going in are very grateful for the service.

not all of the helicopters are medical. Just to let you know.

Aerohead

fishy fishy wrote: »

not all of the helicopters are medical. Just to let you know.

Let me assure you that every helicopter that is landing at UHG is a medical emergency. take this info from someone who knows whats involved, nuff said

Dan_Solo

Aerohead wrote: »

Let me assure you that every helicopter that is landing at UHG is a medical emergency. take this info from someone who knows whats involved, nuff said

I find that hard to believe when there looks like 10 times as many landings as there used to be.
Looks an awful lot like these are just refuelling stops, especially given the number of army choppers using the pad, which you'd only see once in a blue moon a while back.

The army air corps have been providing an air ambulance service out of Athlone for the past year or so.

It is a new service - not refueling.

?Cee?view

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I find that hard to believe when there looks like 10 times as many landings as there used to be.
Looks an awful lot like these are just refuelling stops, especially given the number of army choppers using the pad, which you'd only see once in a blue moon a while back.

Refuelling at a hospital? Avgas and Oxygen probably wouldn't be a good combination...but I don't know.

BeardySi

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I find that hard to believe when there looks like 10 times as many landings as there used to be.
Looks an awful lot like these are just refuelling stops, especially given the number of army choppers using the pad, which you'd only see once in a blue moon a while back.

They refuel at the airport....

Aerohead

Treadhead wrote: »

They refuel at the airport....

Yes they refuel at Galway Airport and if its not open they can arrange it to open or refuel in Shannon.

They are currently on a tasking to Mayo for a seriously ill patient should be landing at Galway shortly. they are also now tasked to serious road traffic accidents

For the tech guys out there its a very fast helicopter with a range of over 500 miles

AW139
Performance
Maximum speed: 310 km/h (193 mph)
Range: 1,061 km (573 miles)
Service ceiling: 6,098 m (20,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 10.9 m/s (2,140 ft/min)

Dan_Solo

churchview wrote: »

Refuelling at a hospital? Avgas and Oxygen probably wouldn't be a good combination...but I don't know.

I don't think they refuel on the wards themselves...
Fair enough, new service. Seems incredibly busy though if all of those flying in used to come by ambulance.

?Cee?view

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I don't think they refuel on the wards themselves...

O2 is stored in big bulk containers to the rear of the main hospital building and piped from there to where needed.

Aerohead

Dan_Solo wrote: »

I don't think they refuel on the wards themselves...
Fair enough, new service. Seems incredibly busy though if all of those flying in used to come by ambulance.

No before this service started patients from outside the City would be taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital, with the shake up in the HSE and the launch of this service UHG is a centre of excellence for all seriously ill patients in the County and further so they are taken to Galway where they have the best medical facilites and staff to treat them on arrival.

trio

I remember when I was a child the helicopters buzzing the house was such a thrill. We'd race from one side of the house to the other, to catch the view of it on both sides. They'd go so low over the roof that I'd be afraid they'd crash into the house! And the noise! We'd start shouting to see if we could match the roar! Good times.....

I'm still close to the hospital and they still buzz the house, and I still find it a bit cool. It's definately increased since last year but I don't mind. Its so loud you can't talk to each other but its only for a minute. When you're washing the dishes and the shadow passes over the window I still feel about 7.

As for affecting house values, not likely! Not this close to town!

snubbleste

trio wrote: »

...
As for affecting house values, not likely! Not this close to town!

If your house is on a noisy road it will affect the value. This is noisy road in the sky Oh look there is a helicopter again @20:49

Storm 10

snubbleste wrote: »

If your house is on a noisy road it will affect the value. This is noisy road in the sky Oh look there is a helicopter again @20:49

My cousin has friend living in Malahide on the flight path into Dublin, plane low over the house every few minutes, never effected his house price, this is non stop night and day you get used to it.

asdfg!

Well if nothing else the amount of flights certainly proves the need for an air ambulance service. Speaking to one of the crew I was told they might get six calls a day sometimes. It's also worth remembering that this is not a full air ambulance service like you might see in the UK and elsewhere and it's only on a temporary basis and is due to end this month.

No disrespect to the Air Corps who've done a great job proving the service is vital but what's clearly needed is full civilian air ambulance service probably based in Galway. Will we get that?

Don't hold your breath.

gordongekko

2 helicopters landed in the last 20 mins 1 approached from the east and one from the west.

snubbleste

gordongekko wrote: »

2 helicopters landed in the last 20 mins 1 approached from the east and one from the west.

Yes. The big red&white bird came from the northeast and departed again to the northeast..there goes my never analogy

Storm 10

Same helicopter, after taking off patients they went into the hospital where they exchange stretchers etc, the helicopter departed for fuel to Galway Airport and returned to collect the crewman and departed for Sligo. Great service

vulcan57

The Air Corps Medevac 112 couple be in here shortly.

From their twitter page:

Irish Ambulance NAS ‏@AmbulanceNAS 25m
NAS NACC has tasked MEDEVAC 112 to an Incident in Co. Roscommon

gordongekko

vulcan57 wrote: »

The Air Corps Medevac 112 couple be in here shortly.

From their twitter page:

Irish Ambulance NAS ‏@AmbulanceNAS 25m
NAS NACC has tasked MEDEVAC 112 to an Incident in Co. Roscommon

just heard 2 helicopters again during the last 20 mins.

Storm 10

gordongekko wrote: »

just heard 2 helicopters again during the last 20 mins.

Same helicopter, she came in dropped off the casualty went to the Airport for fuel and came back again to pick up crewman and equipment, on arrival a crewman goes with the casulaty to the hospital to fill out details of what happened etc and to swop stretchers, so this takes time and if fuel is required they go to the Airport fill up and back in to collect crewman and equipment.

Storm 10

fishy fishy wrote: »

not all of the helicopters are medical. Just to let you know.

Post of the year.

When MEDEVAC112 ( Green Irish Air Corps Helicopter ) or RESCUE 115 ( S92A ) or RESCUE 118 ( S61N ) land at UCHG it is always a Medical.

You will often now see MEDEVAC112 land and depart to Carnmore for fuel before returning to pick up crew and rtb Athlone Barracks.

RESCUE 115 & RESCUE 118 can pretty much afford to sit on the pad for anything up to 20 minutes plus without shutting down.

MEDEVAC112 always shuts down on the pad when she lands unless she is fuel critical and in that case she will land, take off patient and equipment and whatever is necessary before going to fuel up at Carnmore before returning again to UHG to take back crew and equipment.

All in all its a great service being done by the HSE/Irish Air Corps And The Irish Coast Guard.

gordongekko

Are there plans to allow refuelling at the hospital or is that too much of a risk?

Storm 10

No they would never refuel at a Hospital only an Airport or Army Barracks, specialised equipment for refuelling these modern helicopters.

lycan238

Excellent service hope it continues for a long time.