Baofeng used to call in medivac helo

[AK9R]

Interesting. A Baofeng used by Fire/EMS for a legitimate purpose.

 

[merlin]

I don't see why not, Makes for a handy backup IF NEEDED. I can say though, for all of the helos of rescue grade I have seen, not one has radio provisions for talking amateur or LMR. The ground boss would certainly have to advise the pilot of all obstacles that may pose risk.
The pilot is going to orbit getting a close look at possible landing targets and can download very local information that can be displayed such as light poles, signs, wires, etc..

 

[MTS2000des]

Air ambulance services work this way in most parts of the country. Private providers like Air Methods provide the air ride. Air Methods here in Georgia has proper cross programming on all 700/800 systems. On the system I manage, we have a designated talk group known as AIR OPS for Air Methods to coordinate an LZ. They have aircraft radios capable of operating on our trunking system (Technisonics) as well as 7-TAC and 8-TACs. The Technisonics also have VHF and UHF modules.

Sounds like the air ambulance service doesn't have up to date radios with the correct talk groups for firegrounds/landing zones. Nothing wrong with V-TACs, but for God's sake, get a frigging proper part 90 VHF radio for IDLH use. Bowelturds should never be used where someone's life depend on it. Real, reliable serious VHF analog radios with NIFOG capability are free/cheap. I donated 30 Kenwood TK-2180 radios with VHF NIFOG to a local SAR group. Toy radios should NEVER be used where PROFESSIONAL are needed.

 

[chrismol1]

local helos around here do it all, lowband/VHF/UHF/800 and including local trunked systems with LZ talkgroup. All command vehicles have VHF capability even if main system is trunked 800, and going further they can setup patches to V/UTAC from an 800 talkgroup, you'd have to go out of your way to not figure it out even with out of area helos like this situation here. That's too bad they didn't have that setup until this incident. maybe they did, they just didn't know how at the time.

 

[kayn1n32008]

I don't see why not, Makes for a handy backup IF NEEDED. I can say though, for all of the helos of rescue grade I have seen, not one has radio provisions for talking amateur or LMR. The ground boss would certainly have to advise the pilot of all obstacles that may pose risk.
The pilot is going to orbit getting a close look at possible landing targets and can download very local information that can be displayed such as light poles, signs, wires, etc..

Lmfao. You haven't been in any 'rescue grade' helicopters then.

Every single HEMS bird in my province is equipped with at least a VHF LMR radio. Most have both VHF and 7/800 capabilites and the major one usues our provincial P25 trunk system for their operational comms, having abandoned their UHF analogue system. All the law enforcement helicopters have Technisonic radios with multiple RF modules(Motorols APX8000 all band portables) that are stripped down and interfaced to allow the Technisonic chassis to fully control them, including FPP if optioned.

No HEMS helicopter is circling a landing zone and just landing. There nothing to 'download' for obstacles. Landing zones are, here anyhow, established by LZ trained fire fighters, and air to ground comms, on either 700MHz simplex or VHF simplex are established before the helicopter is even close to final approach. The LZ officer give a LZ briefing on terrain, wind and obstacles. Only then will the HEMS helicopter initiate a landing.

Every single helicopter I have ever flown in for work has at least the capability for VHF LMR, and now most governments require P25 capability, even if they are not using it, as they also contract to government for wildland fire fighting. Again, Technisonic radios majority of the time.

 

[merlin]

You haven't been in any 'rescue grade' helicopters then

Actually flown a couple.

 

[merlin]

Technisonic radios majority of the time.

Every one I have seen has at least 2 models of Tecnisonic radios. Haven't seen our local Porneuf flight for life, but it is equipped for all the emergency responder P25 sites in the state plus surrounding states. VHF tac, and mil channels. Direct call to state police and ground EMS.
Now, with the Garmin 1000 multifunction display with GPS, just the push of a button almost instantly downloads every registered flight hazard below 500 foot AGL within 20 Km, zoomable to a single obstacle. No pilot is just going to fly straight in to a target without visually inspecting the site, Period. That overturned semi on the roadway is an unregistered hazard and the pilots obligation to avoid, and has to get between light poles and avoid wires. Nicely displayed on the MFD. A tool to let the pilot know what to look for, LZ boss be damned.
Like posted though, NO CCR should be considered where life is at stake.

 

[merlin]

helicopters have Technisonic radios with multiple RF modules(Motorols APX8000 all band portables) that are stripped down and interfaced to allow the Technisonic chassis to fully control them, including FPP if optioned

Well, I stand corrected, at least the 9000/9300 series has full coverage, from low band through 7/800 MHz including amateur and LMR
A tecnical buliten from Motorola, seems there were bad flaws with the APX8000 module. but all the Til radio have FPP.

 

[N4DES]

It was the ambulance service supervisor on the ground that used the Baofeng according to the video, it was not the staff in the helicopter.

We don't have any private helo services in southeast FL. Every County (Broward, Palm Beach, & Miami-Dade) have at least 2 helicopters per county available 24/7. I can only speak with knowledge about PBC's Trauma Hawk, and they are equipped with multiband Technisonic radios and every PBCFR vehicle that either has the ability to transport a patient along or is a Command vehicle is equipped with an APX8500 mobile.

 

[Chronic]

I think a Baofeng would be better than smoke signals , if that is all you got .

 

[buddrousa]

But then again you have a Radio that is not FCC approved for where it is being used.

 

[AK9R]

It was the ambulance service supervisor on the ground that used the Baofeng according to the video, it was not the staff in the helicopter.

That's my take, too. The helo apparently did not have the talkgroups on the particular 700/800 system that the ground crew was using. The helo did have a VHF radio. But, the ground crew didn't have a VHF radio until someone came up with a Baofeng.

 

[merlin]

It was the ambulance service supervisor on the ground that used the Baofeng

Well, I got that part, just surprised a sup would resort to a Baofeng, makes me wonder about the ambulance service.

 

[merlin]

Every County (Broward, Palm Beach, & Miami-Dade) have at least 2 helicopters per county available 24/7

Yea, and they have the pocketbook for $10 mil helos and $10 grand radios.

 

[bharvey2]

Seems like someone dropped the ball in the planning department. While a Baofeng wouldn't be my choice, if that's all you have and it and it works, so be it. Glad the patient survived.

 

[N4DES]

Yea, and they have the pocketbook for $10 mil helos and $10 grand radios.

And a population of 6 million people, not including the tourists, that they have to serve. Money well spent.

 

[N4DES]

That's my take, too. The helo apparently did not have the talkgroups on the particular 700/800 system that the ground crew was using. The helo did have a VHF radio. But, the ground crew didn't have a VHF radio until someone came up with a Baofeng.

They should have used the 8TAC's then, even in just talk-around, assuming it was in their radios. It was probably a situation of the staff didn't know how to look for or find the resources in their radios and they used what was familiar to them. If I had to guess, I would say lack of training by all the parties involved, but they completed the mission in the end.

 

[littona]

I shake my head every time I hear a story like this. Coordination ahead of need is critical. If they knew that this air ambulance provider was on their list of potential medevac providers, they should have had the communications plan figured out. The ground ambulance guy with a Baofeng saved their bacon.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Well, I stand corrected, at least the 9000/9300 series has full coverage, from low band through 7/800 MHz including amateur and LMR
A tecnical buliten from Motorola, seems there were bad flaws with the APX8000 module. but all the Til radio have FPP.

Previous versions used XTS single band portables. The latest and greatest from TIL can have up to 6 APX multiband radios.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Yea, and they have the pocketbook for $10 mil helos and $10 grand radios.

A TIL with 6 multiband APX radios is going to be far more than $10k... It would be close to $60k or more just for the APX radios, depending on flash options.