Ornge Helicopter Scene Operations

[rkillins]

Just a question of curiosity. The other day 799 landed in a small park not too far from my home. Does anyone know how they coordinate their landing zones? Are there any ground to air comms to assist them in choosing a site and facilitating a safe landing? I've often seen videos of similar ops from the US where the FDP, or incident command, working with the helicopter. Perhaps Ornge just wing it based on coordinates and overfly the area to initiate their landing without support. Cell phones on the scene could be pretty loud, and unlikely a pilot would want to be landing a helicopter and on the phone at the same time.

I thought maybe the ground ambulance might be linked by PCOMM but I was monitoring it and only got pager interference.

 

[OntFF221]

Former Fire Captain here, so I can speak from that aspect...

Ornge/799 communicated to EMS dispatch/CACC, who then relays to EMS units on scene. We (fire) would generally clear the LZ of civilians, and possibly lay a dry line out, depending on a location. We would sometimes suggest a landing site, as we often knew the area best; but it was ultimately upto the pilot...

 

[VA3SOM]

Good video that also outlines what was said above.

 

[Noseybody]

Ornge can be one of the most painful thing to watch sometimes. Communications seems to be a big problem between the scene and them. Just heard OPP request to secure landing scene. They get there and secure a few options. Land ambulance then decides they cant wait and choose to start heading into Ottawa and will meet Ornge part way. They are at the newly chosen landing scene, meanwhile Ornge is circling the area they were suppose to go to first. Have seen this scenario several times over the years. They need a more direct link. IMHO

 

[mikewazowski]

They need a more direct link. IMHO

They have a direct link and in this case, they chose not to use it. At worst, the land ambulance radios it's intentions to the CACC which relays it to the air ambulance. At best, the land ambulance is already on Provincial Common and radios it's intentions directly to the air ambulance.

Doesn't matter what sort of communications they have if they can't be bothered to use them.

 

[Noseybody]

They have a direct link and in this case, they chose not to use it. At worst, the land ambulance radios it's intentions to the CACC which relays it to the air ambulance. At best, the land ambulance is already on Provincial Common and radios it's intentions directly to the air ambulance.

Doesn't matter what sort of communications they have if they can't be bothered to use them.

Interesting. I was not listening to EMS side of the conversations today as Ottawa is quite busy. But in the past, I have got the impression they had to go through CACC, which can be quit busy at times and assumed they didn't have time to relay the messages in time.
It doesn't make sense. If land ambulance wants to change location to speed things up and had the ability to do it on their own, why would you not notify Ornge?

Something needs fixing.

 

[Forts]

That darn channel knob is here somewhere!