Page 31 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE AIR MEDICAL SERVICES

opportunity to save more lives in the UAE However, Rudolph concedes that these extremely capable helicopters,”
and the region, so we have moved up this “it is a very difficult and one of the most Rudolph explains.
segment in our service priorities,” said demanding projects in the coming decade.” Seeking to leverage the opportunities,
Elie Abdo, Managing Partner – Middle “India is a matured market but other major players including Bell
East, International Air Charter. procedures like filing of flight plan and Helicopter, AgustaWestland, Russian
others, which take around three to four Helicopters and Sikorsky are now focusing
India hours, to get clearances for a helicopter on HEMS market in India, China and the
Global helicopter makers are eyeing India to fly with HEMS crew after getting a call Middle East.
as a potential market to provide modern affects its effectiveness,” he says. “We are aiming a foray into the Indian
heliborne resources to help support He suggests that HEMS can be kept out market in HEMS soon. Our presence in
lifesaving missions. of the ambit of the stringent rules by the the country with the largest market share
Airbus Helicopters projects a Indian authorities. For an HEMS operation in charter, utility and heli-tourism is well
requirement of approximately 50 to be successful and effective, there established and entry into HEMS would be
helicopters for medical emergency should be opening of lower airspace. an expansion of our existing boundaries,”
services in India during the next few years. “Unlike China and other western Sameer A Rehman, director of international
With the help of a consortium countries, India doesn’t have open sky trade support for commercial sales and
of government institutions, private policy. Airspace is fully controlled by the marketing at Bell Helicopter Asia (PTE)
hospitals and other stakeholders, Airbus military, especially lower airspace which is Ltd. had said recently.
Helicopters is planning a pilot helicopter maximum 5,000 feet. Opening up of lower Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company,
emergency medical services (HEMS) airspace is a prerequisite...as it helps is operating three 429 helicopters in India
project for a pan-India network. save lives by appropriate action during the and is planning to enhance the number
“India has emerged as a mature golden hour,” Rudolph says. as the company claims they are perfectly
market especially for new age medical suitable for HEMS in Indian conditions.
facilities...Soon we are looking forward Show Time “Bell 429 is the ideal platform for HEMS in
to support implementation of HEMS in The latest version of Airbus Helicopters’s India and we are in talks with the operators
India by setting up pilot projects together air ambulance, the EC145 T2 was and depending on their requirement we
with a consortium of government showcased at the AIRMED World Congress will increase the number,” Rehman had
institutions, private hospitals, insurance in Rome with new HEMS and mountain mentioned.
companies,” Michael Rudolph, director rescue equipment. Recently, Bell Helicopter announced
Public and Governmental Affairs/ market Also on display was a scale model of its support for the Medevac Foundation’s
development, Airbus Helicopters tells the EC135, which is a helicopter of choice HEMS 101 Project, which is dedicated
Asian Airlines and Airports. for HEMS operators in both primary and to producing a set of guidelines for
The pilot projects are planned in the secondary missions. establishing HEMS/Air Ambulance
national capital New Delhi, Mumbai, Airbus Helicopters’s light twin-engine Programs in nations that currently do not
Bengaluru and Hyderabad. “We have models EC135 and EC145 have been have services in place. Bell Helicopter will
created an awareness. Now we have to especially popular all over the world. make a $150,000 donation spread equally
create the demand,” Rudolph says. The EC135 is operated worldwide for a over the next three years in support of the
“I feel it could become reality within broad range of missions, including HEMS, project, run by the international non-profit
two to three years.” law enforcement, rescue operations charitable organization, headquartered in
There are already signs of Indian authorities and business aviation. Equipped with Washington.
and firms stepping up their efforts to establish a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor and “For the last 60 years, Bell Helicopter
an HEMS network, recognizing the immense bearingless main rotor, the helicopter has helped define helicopter emergency
benefits of such a system. delivers excellent performance, range and medical services and have worked closely
Earlier this year, Bengaluru-based payload capacity. Its large, unobstructed with operators around the world to ensure
Aviators Ltd. signed a firm order for an cabin, over-sized sliding side doors and we provide the best aircraft solutions
initial batch of seven EC135 aircraft for rear clamshell doors enable rapid loading/ to meet patient and safety needs,” says
HEMS operations. unloading of patients and equipment Danny Maldonado, executive vice president
“A second order is expected to be ¬ even with the rotors turning ¬ which of sales and marketing at Bell Helicopter.
carried out later this year and rapid facilitates operations during time-critical Bell helicopters is also viewing China
growth is anticipated in the HEMS emergency medical missions. as a strong potential market in the Asia-
market ¬ as many as 50 helicopters are “As the EC135 is a global reference in Pacific region and are trying to increase
expected to be deployed throughout the helicopter emergency medical services, the sales and simultaneously helping to
country in the coming years,” an official it is highly appropriate that operators overcome the challenge of lack of pilots by
of the company says. introduce such operations in India with signing agreements with aviation colleges.
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