STAR-who??...

[Jay911]

Anyone else hear STAR-6 on Provincial during the day today? I was working so I couldn't focus too strongly on the comms, but I think they were doing radio checks. Does this imply the Dauphins (or whatever they purchased) are in?

 

[DX-300]

Yeah, so I'm not insane lol! I heard that too one day listening to the dispatch. It could very well be that the new choppers are in.

 

[electricsheep]

Dauphins? I thought they were buying the Augusta/Bell 139 units. No?
And I don't think they are due for a couple of years, around 2008. One of the problems is the new units are almost double the size of the old ones and can't fit on many of the hospital landing zones that STARS units currently use.

At least that was what I thought I heard about a year ago... 2008, AB-139.

I have heard them use "other" STARS numbers sometimes when they are using a backup or a lease helicopter, but that was about three years ago... What time was this and where was the flight?

 

[Jay911]

Sorry, I can't pin it down any closer than "late morning" and "within range of Calgary". The volume on the console was all the way down to 1 but I definitely heard "STAR-6" voiced by one of the regular pilots.

As for my Dauphins comment, that came from a remark made by someone in CFD who was queried by STARS on the size of aircraft needed to handle "air rescue" dive calls satisfactorily. It was an assumption on my part, and I knew it was most likely off the mark.

And heck, never mind hospital pads, they'll have trouble with most two-lane highways if they're using the 139, IMO! I can think of a few places along Highway 22 in my district that we'll no longer be able to bring them in, where the 117 has been able to drop in easily.

 

[electricsheep]

I read over their financial statements from 2003 again last night and they have already put down almost $900,000 on the AB-139 order, half in 2002, half in 2003, and I can't seem to find my 2004 report.

 

[DX-300]

I've also heard STARS resorting to the use of fixed wing aircraft if the heli-pilot deems that the weather will be unfavorable for a longer trip, such as for a flight to Cranbrook.

Now, I don't want to totally rule it out as a possibility, but, to my understanding, I don't think these fixed wing aircraft have anything to do with this STAR-6 we're hearing as I've read that STARS and the fixed wing aircraft exist somewhat separately, even though STARS utilizes them, as I've never heard traffic being passed back and forth yet from a fixed wing, and if their using provincial, depending on the situation I don't think they'd likely be landing a fixed wing on the hwy at a scene, and finally their website states this:

"There are 11 dedicated air ambulance bases in Alberta -- two helicopter bases and nine fixed wing aircraft bases. STARS operates the two helicopter bases"

 

[Jay911]

STARS used a fixed wing aircraft for about a year in the mid 90s. They passed that up quickly, and all fixed-wing transports are now done by groups like Calgary EMS's Air Medical Division, under the coordination of the Provincial Flight Control Center (PFCC). These services use various commercially-leased aircraft - Calgary uses Bar XH Aviation and Palliser Aviation, to the best of my knowledge.

When you hear the Linkcenter say "This patient will go by fixed-wing", that indicates that the PFCC has found an airplane and crew able to make the flight.

I still believe STAR-x where x>4 implies new (or even rental/loaner) helicopters.

 

[DX-300]

Yes, That is pretty well how I figured it works based on what I've heard when they use fixed wing aircraft.