The new SAR Queen rescue helicopters have caused major disruption for several hospitals after they replaced the predecessor Sea King. They have been too large for several of the landing sites, and in addition the strong rotor wind has created challenges. Among other things, St. Olav’s hospital in Trondheim, Ullevål hospital in Oslo and the university hospital in Tromsø have had problems. Østfold Kalnes Hospital had to be rebuilt to accommodate the new helicopter. At the central hospital in Førde in Vestland, the challenge is different: Here they have to contact the fire engine, which must move out and be ready every time the helicopter lands. In urgent situations where the fire service is not in place at the landing site, and lives are at stake, the helicopter at Førde Central Hospital can land on the so-called emergency right-of-way. Photo: Oddmund Reisæter Haugen / news The reason is that the SAR Queen is certified for more than ten people, and that there are therefore additional requirements for fire safety. The requirement also applies to the Super Puma rescue helicopter. But not ambulance helicopters, which are designed for fewer than ten people. Several hospitals in the same situation Several other hospitals in Norway are in the same situation as Førde central hospital and need extra compensatory measures to meet the requirement. This is confirmed by Henning R. Tennes, section chief for airport and flight security in the Air Force. Henning R. Tennes, section chief for airport and flight security in the Air Force, says several hospitals are in the same boat as Førde central hospital. Some have solved this by calling out the local fire brigade, while others have other compensatory measures. Photo: Sondre Skjelvik / news He does not have an overview of how many and to whom this applies. But an overview from the Air Force in August 2023 found that most landing sites at Norwegian hospitals are not approved for SAR Queen. Nevertheless, the helicopter lands at several hospitals, but then at the so-called emergency court. Several pilots are skeptical about this, because they can then be held personally responsible if something goes wrong. Justice and the Ministry of Emergency Situations tell news that they are not aware of several hospitals having to call out a fire engine during landing. They refer to the Air Force and the health company. Can be expensive Helse Førde has now entered into an agreement with the local fire station to assist during charging. The agreement can cost upwards of half a million a year. – It is important that we adapt to the requirements. We are naturally interested in the best possible preparedness so that we secure both patients and crew, says Terje Olav Øen, head of preparedness at Helse Førde. About 50 times a year, rescue helicopters land at Førde Central Hospital. Until now, Helse Førde and emergency manager Terje Olav Øen thought that everything was in order, but now it turns out that the landing site has not been approved for the corkscrew Sar Queen or Super Puma. Photo: Astrid Solheim Korsvoll / news The alternative is to invest in a fire-extinguishing system for around 5 million, money of which they already have too little. Haukeland University Hospital has a fire extinguishing system, and therefore does not need to call out a fire engine. In Haugesund, ambulance planes and the SAR Queen must land at ordinary air ports in Stord and in Haugesund, says Magne Kyland, communications manager at Helse Fonna. Has never been approved for larger helicopters Helse Førde’s landing pad was completed in 2015 and also houses the base for the air ambulance. Until now, Helse Førde believed that their landing site was approved for SAR Queen and Super Puma. But an inspection by the Air Force on 6 February showed that this is not the case. Here it emerged that the landing area is too small for SAR Queen and that the fire preparedness was not good enough. Emergency manager Øen says they have been living in the belief that everything was fine. Helse Førde is in the process of applying for a dispensation for the additional requirements for fire safety and area. Tennes in the Air Force replies that it is Helse Førde’s responsibility to have the right approvals in place. During an earlier inspection in 2019, the Norwegian Aviation Authority gave a deviation because they did not provide an overview of which helicopter used the landing site. The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority believes that the requirement should have been well known to the health care provider in any case.
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A fire engine must move out every time it lands – news Vestland
