Christ LifeFlight Cincinnati

[tazz]

New helicopter aeromedical program in the Cincinnati area. It's called Christ LifeFlight. They became fully operational today (4/14/2020)

They will be based at and operating from the Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field with one EC 145 helicopter N585CH

No frequencies are known at this time or what they will be running on. Maybe the Ohio MARCS System ???

 

[scannerboy02]

They are staffed by Air Methods. I have not seen any new sites added to the Cincinnati area for the Air Methods radio system. I have been told they do have MARCS radios but have not yet confirmed if that is what they will be using for dispatch communications.

 

[KyFireFreak]

Check out their Facebook page, there's a video of their initial radio call putting them in service. Seems to me that they are using a DMR system.

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[belvdr]

I would be surprised if they are dispatched via MARCS but I’m sure they will have that capability to talk to local agencies.

 

[wa8pyr]

I would be surprised if they are dispatched via MARCS but I’m sure they will have that capability to talk to local agencies.

If they're a private entity, it's unlikely they'll be on MARCS for primary operations, for a number of reasons.

 

[n8dhw]

Check out their Facebook page, there's a video of their initial radio call putting them in service. Seems to me that they are using a DMR system.

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Yes looks like DMR to me using XPR6000 and 4000 series radio's.

 

[scannerboy02]

It would appear they have some kind of "hotspot" setup. It looks like they have a VoIP box on the counter next to the base/mobile radio and the light is changing between green and red when he transmits and receives on the portable.

I have heard them communicating with Air Care base on UHF when they are airborne.

 

[KyFireFreak]

I haven't caught their radio traffic yet, what are they calling themselves?

 

[fordcobra04]

If they're a private entity, it's unlikely they'll be on MARCS for primary operations, for a number of reasons.

Why do you say that? Miami Valley Hospital CareFlight, MedFlight, etc all operate on MARCS for daily operation.

 

[wa8pyr]

Why do you say that? Miami Valley Hospital CareFlight, MedFlight, etc all operate on MARCS for daily operation.

They've been there since the beginning. MARCS is no longer accepting private entities as primary users, only for interoperability. It would be very unusual if the new service were accepted.

 

[fordcobra04]

They've been there since the beginning. MARCS is no longer accepting private entities as primary users, only for interoperability. It would be very unusual if the new service were accepted.

Fair enough. Was not aware that was policy for MARCS now. Thanks for the info.

 

[jcmt]

Anyone figured anything else out on this? Looking at their video, looks like most likely a UHF range based on the antenna on the portable, I think? I know that Christ utilizes some 900 MHz DMR (per the database, anyway) at the main hospital, but I doubt this would suit their needs for rotor wing wide area operations. Mobilcomm has a pretty wide coverage area UHF Trbo Connect Plus system. Wonder if they might be using something like that when they're not at base?

 

[KyFireFreak]

I do not know for sure, but I have a feeling they are on the Mobilcomm system. I have been listening but haven't caught them on it yet however.

I cannot receive the Christ 900 system from my house, maybe someone can keep an ear to that and see what we come up with.

 

[jcmt]

I have plugged in their capacity plus system and I'm listening to it. With the poor weather today, I figure it may be tricky trying to catch them. The dispatch on the other side of the transmissions on their social media video was "Air Comm", which is what Air Method's centralized dispatch is referred to. My guess is that VoIP switch at their base links whatever local RF system they are on back to dispatch.

 

[scannerboy02]

I would imagine the RF system is simplex so you will likely need to be close to the hanger to hear anything.

 

[jcmt]

I would imagine the RF system is simplex so you will likely need to be close to the hanger to hear anything.

They'll have to be using something that covers their service area to facilitate comms between the aircraft and dispatch.

 

[scannerboy02]

They'll have to be using something that covers their service area to facilitate comms between the aircraft and dispatch.

They have PTT satellite communications in the helicopter and I have heard inbound medical reports being given to Christ on the MARCS hospital talkgroup.

 

[jcmt]

Which MARCS talkgroup are you referring to? The Air Care talkgroup (21006) does have position report information from their Lifeflight, Air Evac, etc when in the Cincinnati area to provide coordination amongst aircraft... however, the only patient care reports on that channel are generally for aircraft inbound to the UC hospital. Information may be occasionally relayed to another facility, but other hospitals like Christ are not primarily on that channel. It seems that most other Air Methods programs primarily utilize some sort of LMR system rather than satellite; while I don't doubt the ability to utilize satellite, that does not seem like the most efficient option.

 

[scannerboy02]

Which MARCS talkgroup are you referring to? The Air Care talkgroup (21006) does have position report information from their Lifeflight, Air Evac, etc when in the Cincinnati area to provide coordination amongst aircraft... however, the only patient care reports on that channel are generally for aircraft inbound to the UC hospital. Information may be occasionally relayed to another facility, but other hospitals like Christ are not primarily on that channel. It seems that most other Air Methods programs primarily utilize some sort of LMR system rather than satellite; while I don't doubt the ability to utilize satellite, that does not seem like the most efficient option.

The Christ Hospital talkgroup is 59903. Air Methods does have an extensive LMR network but they do not currently have sites licenced in our area, that could change and I am watching the FCC applications for that. Almost all medical helicopter operations use PTT satellite communications every day, including Air Care.

 

[jcmt]

No dispatch on that 59903 then?

While Air Care has that capability, they use the UHF or MARCS (crosslinked) for routine operations from my experience