Lifesaver Medevac System

[mrbama97]

With Carraway Hospital in Birmingham closing, what will happen to the Lifesaver Medevac System? Is it under a different system? I always thought it was directly attached to the hospital. I know it is based at Carraway.

 

[EMS-1]

A good guess would be that UAB would take over the basing of it considering that they are dispatched out of the TCC (Trauma Communication Center). But that is just a guess. The service is no longer owned or affiliated with Carraway but is owned and operated by Omniflight which is a privately owned company and since Carraway no longer owns it a physician is no longer on board any of their flights. The service now is probably no better than a Paramedic staffed Ground Ambulance just faster.

 

[mrbama97]

Thanks. I haven't heard much about Lifesaver since moving away from Birmingham. I guess more people are using the Air Evac group now.

 

[rbryant2]

Alabama Lifesaver is owned by Ominflight Helicopter,Inc. (http://www.omniflight.com ), a company which owns and/or operates aeromedical programs in a dozen or so states. They still maintain their Birmingham base at the hanger accross from Carraway, but their operations are not affiliated with PMC-Carraway. Not sure how the hospital closure will affect their lease. They also maintain bases in Gadsden, Sylacauga and Auburn. They are still quite active, especially south and east of Birmingham.

By the way, as of September 1, Alabama Lifesaver is no longer being dispatched by Birmingham TCC/BREMSS. Omniflight has centralized all dispatch/communications to their Eastern region communication center in Kennesaw, Georgia. (AirEvac operates a similar system out of their main office in West Plains, Missouri.)

 

[oldranger]

Lifeflight Helicopters

Sylacauga Ambulance Company drivers told me the reason the helicopters are stationed in Sylacauga was because of the congested traffic on highway 280.They said they couldn't get through the traffic with critical patients.There are hospitals on the 280 corridor from Dadeville to Birmingham and also several ambulance companies.They told me the hospitals east of Dadeville send patients to Columbus,Ga.

 

[zac]

I heard LifeSaver will not be affected by the closure of Carraway.

 

[medic9351301]

i wonder if we will still by able to hear them on company freq of 155.355 fcc database search shows no freq info for them this is what their website said

In 2006, Omniflight established its own operational control center (OCC), which is based at the company’s headquarters in Addison, Texas and features the latest in pertinent technology and equipment. Here, aviation experts - which include highly qualified dispatchers and former commercial air traffic controllers - staff the center 24/7 and monitor weather, flights plans and patterns and air worthiness conditions, etc. Before any launch, the OCC must approve the flight.

The OCC also is equipped with Nextel radios/cell phones and laptop computers with back-up power, with the ability to digitally record all applicable information provided to initiate, conduct and terminate a flight or a series of flights manually.

 

[medic9351301]

it also says this

Communications Centers
Omniflight operates two regional communications centers, one in the East and another in the West. The Eastern Region center is in Kennesaw, Georgia while the one serving the Western Region center is located in Mesa, Arizona. These communications centers direct and facilitate all missions, and serve as the first point of contact when requesting air medical services from Omniflight.

Both centers are staffed with full-time air medical services communications specialists, 24/7, 365 days per year.

Professionals that work within the centers are encouraged to be certified by the National Association of Air Communications Specialists (NAACS), and many also hold and maintain basic EMT certification. Additionally, prior EMS or 9-1-1 dispatch experience is advantageous.

Each center features an air medical computer-aided dispatch system, specifically designed for air medical communications. This technology allows for the faster processing of air medical services needs and continually manages the flight process from request for service through patient delivery and return to base.

The centers also boast real-time aircraft tracking and satellite communications with the flight crew.

 

[Steve]

medic, at least here in East Alabama Lifesaver still pops up on 155.355 (151.4). Generally it is the birds from the Auburn (for sure) or Sylacauga (I think) bases that I here with occasional peeps from other Lifesaver birds.

 

[oldranger]

Steve and Medic:
I still hear Lifesaver on their old push but not as often as I used to.The former owner of the Sylacauga Ambulance Company,who is a friend of mine and ham radio operater , told me they are also using cell phones in addition to their satiillite commo equipment.

 

[medic9351301]

i have heard on occ air evac in the air on 163.200 i heard on on 158.400 could have been inter but who knows i have a friend that works at tcc and they have southern stinks to comm with

 

[EMS-1]

Now I have started picking up an Air-Evac Lifeteam Dispatch on my trusty old 250D. I am not sure of the frequency but think it ends in .505. I will check it later on. I hear both sides of the conversation. I was very surprised when it started coming in!. I guess now they will replace Alabama Lifesaver on my scanners since they don't dispatch locally anymore and you have no idea what they are doing til they land or give reports.

 

[EMS-1]

That frequency would be 151.505 for Air Evac Dispatch. I just recentlyy heard them dispatch out for a trauma call in Carrolton in Pickens County. I think this dispatch could possibly be Elmore County?.

 

[SCPD]

That frequency would be 151.505 for Air Evac Dispatch. I just recentlyy heard them dispatch out for a trauma call in Carrolton in Pickens County. I think this dispatch could possibly be Elmore County?.

Here are the freqs I have for air evac

AIR EVAC 64 159.99000 DC 072 D
AIR EVAC 64 151.50500 DC 072 D
Air Evac 64 158.17500 DC 000 D
Air Evac 64 158.29500 DC 000 D A
Air Evac 64 159.99000 DC 000 D
Air Evac 64 160.06500 DC 000 D

The first being the ones "confirmed' & active here around my area ( Montgomery)

 

[CyberGoth1440]

I've heard lifesaver on "company" (155.355) recently during a scene flight in Springville. The chopper was giving position reports and requesting a frequency to communicate with officers at the LZ they had set up.
Could be they use VHF when NEXTEL, Linc or whatever doesn't work? Not like the old days when Carraway operated the service & you'd hear "Lifesaver Scramble, Lifesaver scramble" after a very loud alert tone!

 

[medic9351301]

alabamars are they analog or conv

 

[SCPD]

alabamars are they analog or conv

Analog & conventional all the way, The "D"you see is where I have delay on heheh & "A" where attenuate was on

 

[SCPD]

ALSO here is a FCC dump for Air evac I did a while back

All FCC Licenses for "AIR EVAC LIFETEAM"


AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 151.50500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 151.52000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 152.90750
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 152.92250
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 152.93000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 152.95250
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 152.99750

AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.14000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.18500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.21500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.26000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.30500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.38000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.51500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 153.60500

AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 158.22000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 158.40000
158.37000

AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.50250
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.69000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.69750
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.70500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.71250
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.72750
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.78000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.79500

AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.81000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.87000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.90000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 159.94500 \

AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.02000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.03500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.05750
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.12500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.14000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.15500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 160.20000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 173.22500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 173.32500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 173.37500
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 463.55000
AIR EVAC LIFETEAM 468.55000

 

[Steve]

Little off tropic; but a few days ago I monitored Air Evac 77 (bird out of Columbus GA) using 157.725 (D032) and referring to the frequency/channel as the "Columbus" tower. If memory serves they were headed to one of the Columbus hospitals with a patient. I think FCC license for AE77 shows a Harris Co GA tower location.

 

[davidsc]

That frequency would be 151.505 for Air Evac Dispatch. I just recentlyy heard them dispatch out for a trauma call in Carrolton in Pickens County. I think this dispatch could possibly be Elmore County?.

I don't know where the 151.505 tower is, but the Air Evac flights to Pickens County (and Carrollton) are from the Air Evac base in Fayette.

David