Tuesday 3 February 2009
LABOR’S RESCUE HELICOPTERS: NOT AIR CONDITIONED. ‘NOT OPERATIONALLY SUITABLE’: US ARMY
A damning US Army review of the type of rescue helicopter the State Labor Government has ordered slams the aircraft as being ‘not operationally suitable’ and ‘not effective’, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today.
A US Army Operational and Evaluation Report written in July 2007 made several damning findings, stating:
“The LUH aircraft is not operationally suitable due to excessive heat in the aircraft cockpit and cabin from the sun, heat generated by aircraft avionics, and inadequate ventilation.” (pi)
“High cockpit and cabin temperatures limit crew endurance and affect passengers and medical casualties. Additionally, the aircrafts Rotorcraft Flight Manual describes an avionics overheat condition where if temperatures exceed safe operating ranges, various avionics components have a 30‑minute operating time and will shut down.” (pii)
That the aircraft “is not effective for use in hot environments or for medical evacuation of two litter patients requiring critical medical care.” (pi)
That the Army should “install and test potential material fixes such as an environmental control system (air conditioning) to moderate excessive cockpit, and cabin temperatures to enable operations in hot/humid environments.” (piv)
“This report states the helicopters the State Labor Government are about to purchase are duds,” Mrs Skinner said.
“They can’t operate in hot weather, their avionics might simply shut down and they can’t treat two critically ill patients,” she said.
“If avionics are at risk of shutting down mid‑flight, where does this leave the crew and their patient? This report says the new helicopters could be so hot as to adversely affect patients, so what does the State Labor Government do: order them without air conditioning. Reports indicate temperatures in the existing helicopters have reached over 50 degrees.
“Why on earth did the State Labor Government abandon the Careflight and Westpac rescue helicopters services in favour of this shambles? It simply makes no sense, but then again, this is the NSW State Labor Government.
“The State Labor Government claimed their new contract with CHC would provide helicopters that have ‘capacity to carry more equipment as well as two patients per helicopter’ (Govt factsheet) – but this report finds the new helicopters can’t do this.
“The two new rescue helicopters already operating don’t have air conditioning and crews have been underperforming due to excessive heat – now the State Labor Government has ordered two more helicopters, again with out air conditioning – the incompetence is breathtaking.
“Health Minister John Della Bosca’s claim that the US Army operate this helicopter in battle is wrong, the report states ‘it is the Army’s intent that LUH aircraft operate in non‑hostile environments’.
“John Della Bosca doesn’t know what he’s talking about and his ignorance will put helicopter crew and their patients at risk.
“This entire process has been a shambles, and NSW now runs the risk of having an inferior and more expensive rescue helicopter service than the one we had before.
“Only the State Labor Government under Nathan Rees and a health portfolio under Minister John Della Bosca could be so incompetent.
“Health Minister John Della Bosca must ensure any new helicopters are delivered with air conditioning so patients and helicopter crew are not put at risk and the new aircraft are suitable for operating in any conditions in NSW,” Mrs Skinner said.